Claiming Back Income Tax when you Leave UK Permanently

Claiming Back Income Tax when you Leave UK Permanently
Claiming Back Income Tax when you Leave UK Permanently
Claiming Back Income Tax when you Leave UK Permanently
Are you leaving the UK?

In 2008 more then 395,000 people left the UK. Of these, 60% were migrants returning home permanently, while the remaining 40% were expats starting a new life abroad. Here our tax experts answer some frequently asked questions relating to claiming back tax when you leave the UK permanently:

Can I claim back income tax when I leave the UK?
Yes. Everyone that works in the UK is given a tax free allowance. In the tax year 2009/2010 this was £6,475, which is divided between your wages each week or month. If you leave the UK part way through the year, you will not have received your full tax free allowance and as a result should be due a tax refund.

How can I calculate my tax refund?
On your last day of work or shortly after, you should be given a P45 from your employer. On your P45 there will be the amounts you earned and paid in tax during the year. Input these figures into our tax rebate calculator and it will tell you if you are due a tax refund and how much it will be.

When can I claim my tax back?
Once you have stopped working and received your P45, you can then claim your tax refund.

I left the UK permanently 4 years ago, can I still claim?
Yes. You can still make a claim for up to 6 years. After 6 years you lose your eligibility to claim.

I have lost my P45/P60; can I still make a claim?
Yes. If you have lost your P45 or P60 you can still make a claim. You will need to contact your previous employer or employers and ask the payroll department for a 'statement of earnings'. A statement of earnings is document which can be used as a replacement for a P45 or P60.

How do I claim my tax refund?
You can either make a claim yourself or you can use a tax refund agent such as TaxFix to help you make your claim.