Tax Refund Calculator, 2026/27

How this is calculated

This calculator compares the tax that should be due on your total income for the year, using the standard 2026/27 personal allowance and tax bands, against what has actually been deducted through PAYE. A positive difference suggests a refund; a negative one suggests more tax is owed.

PAYE is designed to spread tax evenly across the year assuming steady income and a correct tax code, so it copes badly with mid-year changes: starting a job in month six, having gaps between jobs, an emergency tax code being applied on a new job, or working only part of the year all commonly cause an overpayment that only becomes visible once the whole year is added up.

This is a general purpose refund estimate. For the more specific case of two jobs at once, use the second job tax calculator, and for a fuller HMRC-style reconciliation including benefits in kind, use the P800 checker on this site.

Common causes of overpaid PAYE tax

An emergency tax code, often shown as 'W1', 'M1' or '0T', taxes each pay period in isolation without applying the cumulative personal allowance, which usually results in too much being deducted until HMRC corrects the code. Redundancy, career breaks, and starting self-employment partway through the year after a period of employment are other frequent triggers.

Uniform costs, professional subscriptions and certain travel expenses can also create a refund if never claimed, though these are additional reliefs on top of any code-related overpayment rather than PAYE errors themselves.

How to actually claim a refund

If you complete self-assessment, any overpayment is settled automatically as part of your return. If not, HMRC usually identifies the overpayment itself after the tax year ends and issues a P800 or makes a payment directly, but you can also contact HMRC proactively rather than waiting.

Keep your P45s and P60s for the year, since these show exactly what was deducted and by whom, which speeds up any manual claim or query with HMRC.

Why might I have overpaid tax through PAYE?

Common causes include an emergency tax code, starting a job partway through the tax year, having a gap in employment, or holding more than one job where the personal allowance was not split correctly.

How do I claim a tax refund?

If you file self-assessment, it is settled through your return automatically. Otherwise HMRC usually issues a P800 after the tax year ends, though you can also contact HMRC directly if you believe you have overpaid.

How long does a PAYE refund take?

Refunds identified through a P800 are often paid within a few weeks once processed, though timing varies with HMRC workloads, particularly in the months after the tax year ends.

Can I claim a refund for previous tax years?

Yes, HMRC generally allows claims going back up to four tax years, so it is worth checking older P60s or P45s if you suspect an overpayment was never corrected.