Is it normal if I have not received my P800 yet?
In August 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.”
August 2026 status: where we are now
We are now mid-way through the main June–October delivery window. 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. If you have a single employer and no complex income, yours is likely already on its way or in your Personal Tax Account. Cases involving multiple jobs, pension income, or benefits are typically processed later in the window.
From 12 August 2026, HMRC also began sending Simple Assessmentletters to some pensioners — these are separate from P800 letters but often cause confusion. If you receive a Simple Assessment letter, it means HMRC has done the calculation for you and you usually need to pay or arrange payment, rather than claim a refund online. 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.
