HMRC has advised taxpayers to check online whether they are owed a tax refund, with a November deadline approaching for paper cheques. The guidance follows an inquiry from a person whose son overpaid tax in the 2025/2026 tax year, with the amount recorded on his personal tax account.
Refund timelines explained
HMRC confirmed that refunds claimed online through a Personal Tax Account are paid within five working days. If no online claim is made, HMRC will automatically post a paper cheque, which can take up to six weeks to arrive.
When asked when a cheque would be sent, HMRC said it could arrive anytime between June and November. To speed up the process, it suggested contacting the income tax helpline.
How to claim your refund
Tax refund cheques, also known as 'payable orders', are no longer sent automatically, so taxpayers must take action to claim their money. If a cheque is issued by post, it should typically arrive within three weeks, though customers are advised to allow a six-week window for processing and postage.
An HMRC spokesperson said: "Customers who have overpaid tax through PAYE receive a P800 tax calculation letter which explains what action they need to take to claim the money owed, either via gov.uk or the HMRC app."
"Anyone yet to receive a letter can check if they are due a refund by logging into their Personal Tax Account or HMRC app."
Check your tax code
The peak period for HMRC correcting overpayments from the previous tax year is June to July. The quickest repayment method is online, with most customers receiving their cash within five working days. Those unable to claim online can contact HMRC using details in the P800 letter to request a cheque or bank transfer.
A common cause of paying the wrong amount of tax is an incorrect tax code, which tells employers or pension providers how much tax to deduct. Tax codes can become wrong after changes such as starting a new job. Taxpayers can check their code online via the Government website, on a payslip, in the HMRC app, or on a Tax Code Notice letter, and can report changes through gov.uk, the app, or by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3300.
