HMRC tax refund for SIPP contribution - how quick?

[HammyHamster]

Hi, I want to put a lump sum into my SIPP at the beginning of April before the end of the tax year. I don't want to do it earlier due to cashflow.

This contribution will be from post-tax income so I will applying for a tax refund via the 2022/23 self assessment.

If I do my 22/23 tax return on 6th April, is the tax refund generally fairly quick? I don't want to be waiting months for HMRC to drag their heels before sending me a cheque. Cheers.

[DoubleSix]

Very quick in my experience. No more than a week or two.

[HammyHamster]

Thank you, that's good to know

[Jiebo]

It can take a month, or if the transaction investigated 6 weeks. When you request for the refund online, they will ask you to complete an identification, using two pieces of ID - and you will find that even entering the correct data it will fail. Oh you only get 3 tries.

I'm currently on week 4. You get no email confirmation, or letter in the post that you've requested this. If you go into their systems, it shows no record of this either.

I spent an hour today waiting for someone to talk to me. Guess what, they put a block on my account because I updated my address 10 months a go. Nothing flagged when I log into HMRCs portal, or any way of knowing there is a problem.

Absolute jobsworths. They have no problem taking the money, or fining you though.

[Countdown]

Do they give you the option of repaying via your tax code?