Is it normal if I have not received my P800 yet?
In October 2026: this is completely normal. Letters are being sent from June 2026 through March 2027, and most people receive theirs between June and October. If you have not received yours yet, it does not mean something has gone wrong — it means HMRC has not reached your case yet. Check your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK for any updates.
HMRC confirmation (2 June 2026)
HMRC confirmed on social media: “We'll be automatically reviewing records for the last tax year shortly and we'll let you know if you've overpaid or underpaid tax from June onwards. We'll begin issuing tax calculations from June onwards, so if you owe tax or are due a refund, you can expect to receive one between then and March next year.”
October 2026 status: where we are now
The main June–October delivery window is in its final days. HMRC is issuing P800 letters for the 2025/26 tax year in batches, and around 4 million are expected to go out across 2026 in total. Most straightforward cases (single employer, no complex income) have already been sent; cases involving multiple jobs, pension income, or benefits continue into the autumn, and the formal window runs to March 2027.
Watch out for Simple Assessment letters this autumn — HMRC expects to send around 1.8 million for the 2025/26 tax year (up from 675,000 five years ago). Working-age customers have been receiving them since 30 June 2026 and pensioners since 12 August 2026, with a second tranche due October–December 2026. A Simple Assessment (PA302) is separate from a P800: it usually means HMRC has calculated tax you need to pay, rather than a refund you can claim. For the 2025/26 tax year, a letter dated before 31 October 2026 must be paid by 31 January 2027; a letter dated on or after that date must be paid within 3 months of the letter's date. Check which document you have before taking action.
Readers often search for when P800 letters are issued, when P800s get sent out, and when they can expect a refund. HMRC says P800 tax calculation letters are usually sent between June and March of the following tax year, with many people receiving them between June and October.
If you are wondering when will I get my tax refund after claiming, the answer depends on your route: online refunds are usually paid within 5 working days, while cheques take longer. The timeline below explains each stage from tax year end to money in your account.
If you're new to P800 refunds, start with our P800 Refund Guide → for a plain English overview.
Current GOV.UK guidance says tax calculation letters are sent between June and March of the following tax year. HMRC confirmed on 2 June 2026 that letters are being issued from June onwards. If you are still waiting, that delay can be normal — it does not mean something has gone wrong.
HMRC timings can vary, so the aim here is to provide realistic expectations and the right next checks if you have been waiting longer than expected. It is more helpful as a guide to common timing patterns than as a promise of exact dates for every case, especially if you are comparing claim timing, cheque timing or the details on your P800 reference letter.
