Many people who have worked in the UK are not sure how to claim tax back that they have overpaid. They may have only worked in the United Kingdom a short while. Or they may have had other circumstances that made their status unclear as to how much tax was owed.

Some people are from other countries and come to the UK to work as contractors, service workers or other types of workers. They only stay a few months or a year. At the end of that time, they return to their home country. They may not realize that they are entitled to a refund on tax money they have paid in. Or they may think that if they are owed money, they have to be in the country to collect it.

People who have changed jobs during the year often have paid too much money in. They may not be aware of it at all. Sometimes people have only worked part of the year and this has resulted in an overpayment. A change in status from full time to part time or to self employed can also result. Any number of changes like this can create a difference in the amount of money owed.

Sometimes problems arise from simple paperwork. If an employer accidently uses the wrong number for the current year s tax code, the employee can sometimes be owed money. Occasionally students work during the holidays. They may not know to complete the form P38S Student Employees tax document.

Refunds can be requested for up to six years prior. It can be done by filling out the appropriate paperwork and submitting it to HM Revenue & Customs. Certain documents have to be obtained from the employers. If the employee received any benefits while working such as being paid for lodging, qualified relocation expenses or other things that the employer provided but were not regular wages, they will need to supply a P11D form as well.

Some people will choose to explore these options by completing the information on their own. Others may use services that can help facilitate refunds. While the option is strictly up to the individual, using a service can be a little less complicated especially if the person is having difficulty in getting old documents from a former employer. These services do charge a fee so people may want to weigh both types before committing to either one. Many will choose to request their refund online to claim tax back.