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P800 Refund

Independent UK guidance for P800 refunds and HMRC letters.

Official HMRC links matter. This site explains the process in plain English and points readers towards official GOV.UK routes.

Verify & triage

P800 Notice: How to Check If HMRC Sent You One (2025/26)

Independent UK guidance for the 2025/26 tax year. We are not affiliated with HMRC or GOV.UK.

If you are a UK taxpayer, you may have seen "P800 notice" in the news or on social media. HMRC sends these letters every year between June and March to people who overpaid or underpaid tax — but not everyone receives one.

This page helps you check whether one was issued to you and confirm it is genuine. For what a P800 is and how it works, see the P800 definition guide.

James Wells

Editor and fact-checker

Edited & fact-checked against official HMRC / GOV.UK guidance

Read our editorial policy

Not sure if you need to check? If you received a letter from HMRC about tax, or if you are worried you missed one, here is how to find out.

How to check if a P800 notice was issued to you

If you think HMRC should have sent you a P800 but you have not received one, here is how to check.

1. Check your Personal Tax Account online

Log in to your Personal Tax Account and look at the "Tax overview" section. If HMRC has issued a P800 calculation for a recent tax year, it will appear there.

2. Contact HMRC Income Tax helpline

If you cannot check online, contact the HMRC Income Tax helpline. Have your National Insurance number and Government Gateway login details ready.

3. "I think I should have one but haven't received it"

Common reasons you may not have received a P800:

  • Not everyone receives one — only people with a tax discrepancy
  • HMRC may still be processing your record (the window runs until March 2027)
  • Your address may need updating with HMRC
  • You are in Self Assessment (the SA process replaces P800)

Is your P800 notice genuine? Quick checks

A real P800 notice is a letter sent by post or a view in your Personal Tax Account. It is not a text message, email, or social media message.

✓

A real P800 notice is:

  • A letter sent by post to your registered address
  • Viewable in your Personal Tax Account
  • Contains your full name, address, and tax year
✗

A real P800 notice is NOT:

  • A text message with a link to claim a refund
  • An email asking for your bank details
  • A message that says "claim within 24 hours or lose your refund"

3 quick checks before you act:

  1. Is it a letter or a text/email? — Only letters and Personal Tax Account views are genuine.
  2. Does it show a tax year and reference number? — Real notices always include these.
  3. Is it pressuring you to act immediately? — HMRC does not use urgency tactics.

Want the full safety checklist? See the official GOV.UK links and safety guide →

Common questions

How do I know if HMRC sent me a P800?

Check your Personal Tax Account under "Tax overview". If HMRC has issued a P800, it will appear there. You can also contact the HMRC Income Tax helpline.

Is a text about a P800 refund a real P800 notice?

No. A real P800 notice is a letter sent by post or a view in your Personal Tax Account. HMRC does not send P800 notices by text message. If you received a text about a tax refund, do not click the link — it is likely a scam.

Can I see my P800 notice online?

Yes. Log in to your Personal Tax Account and check the "Tax overview" section. If HMRC has issued a P800 calculation for a recent tax year, you can view it there.

What if I never got my P800 notice?

You may not receive one if your tax position reconciled exactly, if you are in Self Assessment, or if HMRC has not yet processed your record. The processing window runs from June to March.

Last updated: 10 July 2026 · Reviewed by James Wells

Where to go next

What is a P800?Understand the tax calculation itself.P800 letter sampleSee what a real P800 letter looks like.How to claim onlineStep-by-step guide for the official GOV.UK route.P800 timing guideWhen HMRC sends letters and how long refunds take.What your P800 meansOverpayment vs underpayment — what to do next.

Sources

These pages are based on current official guidance and should be checked again if HMRC or GOV.UK updates the process.

GOV.UK: Tax overpayments and underpaymentshttps://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpaymentsOfficial guidance on what to do if your P800 says you overpaid or underpaid tax.GOV.UK: Personal Tax Accounthttps://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-accountLog in to your Personal Tax Account to view your tax calculations online.GOV.UK: Check if a letter you've received from HMRC is genuinehttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-a-letter-youve-received-from-hmrc-is-genuineOfficial guidance on how to verify whether a letter from HMRC is genuine and report suspicious contact.