HMRC sends 4m letters this week warning ‘you must respond’ | Personal Finance | Finance
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has issued a warning letter to four million Brits who could be missing a payout. The letter, expected to land in homes across the country this summer, outlines a crucial tax refund which requires urgent action in some cases.
The tax authority will distribute the letters between June 1 and August 31, with those receiving the letter instructed to get in touch with HMRC about a potential repayment. The service claimed those who had been informed of a missing payment never replied to the previous warning about being short-changed, and this letter will hopefully prompt them to reach out about the missing £473.
Officials warned: “Remember getting a letter about a tax refund but didn’t do anything about it? Last year, almost 1 million people didn’t claim back the money they’re owed.” The refunds usually arise when people overpay on income tax.
Overpayments can be a result of incorrect tax codes, job changes, or holding multiple jobs at once. Claiming online via your Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app is the quickest method, with payments usually processed within 5 working days.
HMRC has issued warnings about fake letters circulating, stating: “You must respond to the letter so we can make any repayments owed to you as soon as possible. If you receive further requests for information to be sent to an email address that does not end in ‘hmrc.gov.uk’, they will not be genuine.”
P800s are being sent to employees on PAYE and pensioners who may have overpaid tax on their income. Those with work-related expenses or complex income arrangements typically need to make claims themselves within four years using the HMRC app or relevant forms on gov.uk.
Millions of taxpayers overpay tax each year for various reasons, meaning they are owed a rebate from HMRC to return their hard-earned money. The tax authority dispatches letters annually to these individuals, outlining how to submit a claim.
Until 2024, recipients had 21 days to respond, otherwise a cheque was posted to their registered address. However, hundreds of thousands of these remain uncashed.
