How do I get a tax refund?

[PabloEscortCar]

Need pointing in the right direction here by someone in the know……….

My Mrs decided to change job from where she had worked for several years in May 2023, she was monthly paid on PAYE. She worked one month at the start of 2023/2024 in her old job, left, then had 10 months off and then started another job at the end of 2023/2024, again on PAYE.

The result is she has paid two amounts of tax (total around £600) at the beginning and at the end of 2023/2024 that she didn’t have to, due to her taxable allowance. What is the easiest/simplest way to get it refunded without involving her new employer, is there some form to fill in, is it a phonecall, do we write a letter - if so where to?

I would rather a simple refund for the £600 odd rather than start messing about with tax codes if that is an option.

Many thanks for any input in advance.

[Rufus Stone]

I think for something as simple as that, she can call HMRC and request it.

[PabloEscortCar]

A phonecall it is then

[paulrockliffe]

If you can't be bothered with that, there is an annual reconciliation that leads to refunds being issued when required. My wife is in the same boat, changed jobs, had a period where she wasn't earning and then had a couple of months on the wrong tax code.

[Jasmine1]

PabloEscortCar said:

A phonecall it is then

I tried to ring HMRC recently.

After 10 minutes of being on hold a computerised voiced said they couldn’t take my call and then hung up.

I suspect this will not be an easy process.

[PabloEscortCar]

Jasmine1 said:

I suspect this will not be an easy process.

Is doing anything easy today?

If the call route becomes an impossiblity I will send off a covering letter with copies of the relevant payslips and see if that works, if it takes time it doesn't matter as long as it eventually turns up.

If anyone has a known address where I may stand half a chance of getting a response feel free to share?

[funinhounslow]

If you do nothing won’t this all “come out in the wash” in the next few weeks anyway? ie don’t HMRC automatically refund any overpayments from this previous tax year over summer anyway for people who don’t do self assessment?