In this section:
- Approaching retirement or State Pension age
- Paying the right tax after State Pension age
- Understanding tax codes and tax forms
- How your pension income is taxed
- Reducing your Income Tax
- Claiming back tax or National Insurance
- Get help dealing with your Tax Office or help someone else
- Passing on your money and property
Claiming back tax or National Insurance
If you've overpaid tax or National Insurance through your job or pension or after completing a tax return you can claim it back. If you're on a low income and have savings you may be able to claim back tax deducted from the savings interest before you received it.
On this page:
- Claiming back tax if you've had too much deducted from your pension
- Reclaiming tax if you've overpaid through your job
- If you complete a tax return and think you've overpaid
- Claiming back overpaid National Insurance contributions
- Getting tax-free interest on savings or claiming tax back
- Tax credits on UK dividends - non refundable
- More useful links
Claiming back tax if you've had too much deducted from your pension
If you pay tax on a company or personal (including retirement annuity) pension or State Pension through PAYE (Pay As You Earn - the system used by employers and pension providers to deduct tax from your wages or pension) there are several reasons why you might end up accidentally paying too much.
Follow the link below to find out when you might have overpaid - and how to claim tax back if you have. This will take you to the Income Tax section of our website.
Claiming back tax if you've had too much deducted from your pension
Reclaiming tax if you've overpaid through your job
Sometimes when you're working you can end up paying too much Income Tax, particularly if you change jobs often or have more than one job at the same time. If you think you've paid too much tax you can take some simple steps to apply for a refund. Read the guide below to find out more. This is in the Income Tax section of our website.
Reclaiming tax if you've overpaid through your job
If you complete a tax return and think you've overpaid
If you have made an error, forgotten to tell your Tax Office something on your Self Assessment tax return or think you have paid too much or too little tax it's easy to let them know. If they agree with your new figures they'll make a repayment, or if as a result of the changes you owe additional tax, they will tell you how much is due. Find out how to report an error or apply for a refund in the Self Assessment section of our website.
Tax return corrections and refunds
Claiming back overpaid National Insurance contributions
When you reach State Pension age you no longer need to pay National Insurance contributions if you carry on working. Also, up until this time, there's a limit to the amount of National Insurance contributions you need to pay each tax year. Find out more - including how to claim the money back if you think you've overpaid - by reading our guide below. This will take you to the Income Tax section of our website.
Claiming back overpaid National Insurance contributions
Getting tax-free interest on savings or claiming tax back
If you're on a low income and have savings with a bank or building society you could be paying tax on your interest when you don't need to. If this is the case, you can register to have the interest paid tax-free. You can also claim a refund of any tax you've overpaid. Read our guide in the Income Tax section to find out more.
Getting tax-free interest on savings or claiming tax back
Tax credits on UK dividends - non-refundable
If you get income from UK shares ('dividends') you can't reclaim the 10 per cent tax credit shown on the dividend, even if you don't pay any tax. This is because Income Tax hasn't been deducted from the dividend paid to you - you've simply been given a 10 per cent 'credit' to offset against any Income Tax due. Read the guide below to find out more about tax and UK dividends. This is in the Income Tax section of our website.
More useful links
More about reclaiming overpaid tax from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (opens new window)
More about working and paying tax
