What is a P800 tax calculation and can I get a refund?
A P800 is a tax calculation HMRC sends to show whether you paid the right amount of Income Tax over a tax year. It can tell you that you are owed a refund or that you owe tax. If you are due money back, the P800 explains how to claim it, usually directly from HMRC.
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Check what you're owed →HMRC carries out an end-of-year reconciliation for many people whose tax is collected through their pay or pension. Where the figures show a difference between the tax taken and the tax actually due, it may issue a P800 calculation. This often happens after changes in income, multiple jobs, or reliefs that were not fully accounted for during the year.
If the P800 shows a refund, it will set out how the repayment is made — sometimes you can claim it online, and sometimes it comes automatically. If it shows that you owe tax, it will explain how that will be collected, often through an adjustment to a future tax code rather than an immediate demand. Either way, the calculation is worth reading carefully.
A P800 is only as accurate as the information HMRC holds, so it is sensible to check it against your own records, such as payslips, P60s and details of any other income. If you think it is wrong, you can query it with HMRC. Acting promptly on a refund means you get money you are owed back sooner.
How to deal with a P800 tax calculation
- Read the calculation. Go through the P800 to see whether it shows a refund or an amount owed and how it was worked out.
- Check it against your records. Compare the figures with your payslips, P60s and any other income to make sure they are right.
- Claim any refund. Follow the instructions on the P800 to claim a refund, usually through your online tax account.
- Query any errors. If something looks wrong, contact HMRC to have the calculation reviewed and corrected.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a P800 tell me?
- It shows HMRC’s calculation of whether you paid the right Income Tax for a year, and whether you are owed a refund or owe tax.
- How do I claim a P800 refund?
- The P800 explains how to claim, often online through your tax account, or it may be paid automatically depending on your circumstances.
- What if the P800 says I owe tax?
- It will explain how the tax is collected, frequently through a change to a future tax code rather than an immediate payment.
- What if I think it is wrong?
- Check it against your own records and contact HMRC to query it if the figures do not match what you expect.
MoneyFinder is an independent sign-posting service that helps you find financial support you may be entitled to. We are not a government body and do not provide financial advice. Figures are taken from the official sources cited above and were correct when last checked — always confirm current details on the linked GOV.UK pages.