HMRC returns overpaid tax for free — no agents, no commission. Average refund — £200–1,800 for a PAYE worker, £2,000–6,000 for a CIS subcontractor. Three situations give you the right to a refund: emergency tax on your payslip (code BR/0T — refund through Personal Tax Account), CIS deductions for construction workers (through Self Assessment), you left the UK mid-year (form P85 online, 15 minutes). HMRC processing time — 4–12 weeks. Agents like RIFT take 28–36% for something you can do yourself.
Three situations give you the right to a refund: emergency tax on your payslip, CIS deductions as a construction worker, you left the UK mid-year (P85 / R40 / P50). Average refund £200–1,800. We cover all three below.
Choose your situation — the calculator will show an approximate amount and the path to a refund.
Это оценка. Точная сумма — после подачи. ± £100. Как подать самому →
The refund mechanism depends on why the overpayment happened. Find your situation.
Code BR or 0T means: your employer did not receive the correct code from HMRC and is deducting 20% from your entire salary without taking your Personal Allowance into account. W1/M1 — cumulative accounting is turned off.
When you start a job without a P45 — ask your employer for a «Starter Checklist» (replaces P46). Mark your situation (A/B/C). This will prevent emergency tax.
The contractor deducts 20% (or 30% if you are not verified) from each payment. But this deduction is calculated on your gross income — without Personal Allowance or expenses. The real tax is usually 3–4 times lower.
Full CIS guide: go to /en/taxes/cis →
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. If you left earlier, too much tax was deducted for the whole year — part of your Personal Allowance was not used. Refund through form P85.
If you already file Self Assessment (for example, as a CIS subcontractor or sole trader) — do NOT file P85. Use your SA return for the same tax year. Double filing will cause an error.
HMRC does not publish a universal SLA for refunds. Most online refunds are processed within a few weeks. Postal and complex cases take longer. Check the status in your Personal Tax Account, do not call before 8 weeks.
RIFT takes 36% of your refund. Tax Returned — 28%+VAT. HMRC returns the same amount. The only difference is how much the middleman keeps for themselves.
HMRC возвращает одну и ту же сумму вне зависимости от посредника. Разница — только сколько посредник возьмёт себе.
File P85 for a tax refund after you leave — typical refund £400–2,500 for a seasonal worker. Do it yourself for free in 15 minutes.
More about the Seasonal Worker Visa →CIS / Self AssessmentCIS construction workers get £2,000–6,000 back through Self Assessment — not through P85. Step-by-step guide: registration, SA100, deadlines.
Self Assessment — 7 steps →Check your employerCheck your employer through Companies House and HMRC before filing a refund — this will protect you from delays caused by mismatched RTI data.
How to check your employer →If your employer did not pay your wages — read: What to do if you are not being paid →