Updated 2026-05-21
Third-party refund agents (tax refund companies) promise to reclaim UK taxes for a commission of 25–40% of the refund. They are legal, but HMRC processes refunds free via P85/Self Assessment online in 6–12 weeks. Risk: a deed of assignment can route all your past-year refunds through the agent.
Refund agents (RIFT, Tax Returned) take 28–36% of your refund for something you can do yourself on gov.uk for free in 90 minutes. HMRC returns the same amount — the difference only goes to the middleman. The contract lasts 4 years: all refunds during that period also have the fee taken out. There is no reason to pay an agent if you don't have a complicated tax situation.
"Free filing" — behind those words there is 36% commission.
RIFT and Tax Returned do nothing that you cannot do yourself on gov.uk in 90 minutes. HMRC returns the same amount. The difference is only how much the middleman takes for himself.
Один и тот же возврат. Четыре цены.
HMRC возвращает одну и ту же сумму вне зависимости от посредника. Разница — только сколько посредник возьмёт себе.
One refund — four receipts.
Let's say HMRC owes you exactly £3,000. Here is what ends up in your account at the end of the month.
DIY
gov.uk · by yourselfAccountant
ICAEW · fixed priceTax Returned
28% + VATRIFT
36% incl VATSources: rift.co.uk/our-fees · taxreturned.co.uk/how-it-works · ICAEW "typical engagement letter" (£250–£400 for SA + refund claim). Checked 11 May 2026.
Four tricks this is built on.
This is not "fraud" in the legal sense — everything is legal. It is marketing aimed at people who are more afraid of the gov.uk interface than they are of losing £1,000.
"Free filing"
The filing is indeed free — but a fee is taken from the refund. The word "free" refers to the step, not the result.
"No win — no fee"
Sounds like insurance. In reality — if the refund is £0, you pay nothing (as it should be). But if the refund is large, the fee is proportionally large.
4-year contract
By signing for one refund, you give the right to 4 years of SA filings. Future refunds also lose 30% — even if you didn't ask for anything that year.
Targeted ads
Advertising on construction sites, in migrant WhatsApp chats, at bus stops. The audience — people who don't trust their English and are afraid of gov.uk.
"I signed a paper about a refund of £4,200. A month later I got £2,688. When I called to ask — they explained that 36% is a normal price for the service."
— anonymous CIS subcontractor, Leicester · 2025How to file yourself — 4 steps, 90 minutes.
If you have one job, your English is at B1 level, and you can fill in a form on a website — that is enough. There is no magic in their "process".
Government Gateway · refund claim
This is not Self Assessment. If you have a simple PAYE refund — there is a separate form, no declaration needed.
- Register at gov.uk/personal-tax-account. You will need your NI number and passport. Activation by post — 7–10 working days.
- Open "Check your Income Tax for the current year". Here HMRC itself shows: "you are owed £X" — or "everything is fine".
- Fill in the P800 / online refund claim form. Attach your P60 or latest payslip. 5 fields, 15 minutes.
- Wait for the BACS transfer. To your bank account. Time: 4–6 weeks. You can see the status of your claim in your Personal Tax Account.
So when does an agent make sense?
If you have a complicated situation (multiple employers at the same time, CIS + PAYE mix, foreign income, company director) — a chartered accountant with a fixed price really can save you time. But that is an accountant for £300, not a refund agent for 36%.
Any middleman who charges a percentage of the refund has a conflict of interest. Anyone who charges a fixed price is a normal professional. That is the only important difference.