If you're planning to move abroad for good or stay away for a long time, there's a good chance you're wondering, can I claim my tax back if I am leaving the UK? The short answer is yes, in many cases you can.

We’ll break it all down for you. You’ll learn when you can claim a tax refund, how the process works and what you need to sort before you leave the country.

Can you claim tax back when leaving the UK?

Yes, you can often claim a tax refund if you leave the UK before the end of the tax year and stop receiving UK income.

Your eligibility usually depends on a few key things:

  • You left the UK part-way through the tax year
  • You stopped getting income from a UK employer or business
  • You don’t plan to return before the end of that tax year

If that matches your situation, it’s worth checking what you’re owed. In the next section, we’ll go over exactly when you can claim.

When are you eligible for a tax refund?

You could be due a HMRC tax refund if you leave the UK and meet certain conditions. These are the most common situations where a refund applies:

  • You leave the UK before the tax year ends
  • You were on PAYE and paid too much tax through your employer
  • You stop receiving any taxable income from the UK
  • You start working full-time abroad and become non-resident for tax

Even if it’s not obvious, overpaying tax is more common than you’d think when leaving the country. It’s always worth checking.

How to claim a tax refund from HMRC before you leave

If you're moving abroad, you can apply for a leaving the UK tax refund using form P85. This tells HMRC you’ve left the country and want to claim back any overpaid tax.

You can fill in the form online or send it by post. HMRC will then review your details and work out if you’re owed money.

To complete your P85, you’ll need:

Try to submit everything before you go. It helps speed up your refund.

What if you’ve already left the UK?

Don’t worry if you’ve already left the UK. You can still claim your non-resident tax refund using the same process.

You’ll still need to fill in form P85 and provide any documents you didn’t send before leaving. HMRC might ask for extra details about your work and living situation abroad.

If you're not using a UK bank account, HMRC can send your refund by international bank transfer or a cheque. Just keep in mind that this can take longer and may come with fees, depending on your bank.

How much tax could you get back?

The amount of your UK tax refund depends on a few things. HMRC will look at:

  • How much you earned during the tax year
  • When you left the UK
  • Any expenses or tax-free benefits you claimed

If you stopped working part-way through the year, there’s a good chance you paid more tax than you needed to. That’s where your refund comes in.

Want a quick estimate? Use our free tax refund calculator to see how much you could be owed.

Can you claim for previous years?

Yes, you can. HMRC gives you up to four years to claim a UK tax refund from a previous tax year.

That means even if you left the country a while ago, you could still be owed money. It’s especially common if you didn’t realise you were eligible at the time or never got around to claiming.

At RIFT, we help people recover overpaid tax even years after they’ve moved abroad. We know what to look for and how to make sure nothing gets missed.

How long does it take to get your refund?

Most HMRC tax refunds take between 6 and 12 weeks to process. That’s once your claim is submitted with all the right documents.

A few things can slow it down:

  • Missing or incorrect paperwork
  • Delays with international bank transfers
  • HMRC needing more information from you

To avoid hold-ups, it helps to get everything right the first time. That’s where we come in.

How RIFT can help

At RIFT, we’ve been handling UK tax refunds since 1999. We’ve helped thousands of people claim back what they’re owed when moving abroad.

Here’s how we make it easy:

  • We check if you're eligible before you apply
  • We handle all the paperwork and contact with HMRC
  • We make sure you get the maximum refund, fast

We’ve seen it all before and we know every step of the process. Whether you're still in the UK or already living overseas, we’re here to help.

FAQs

Do I need to tell HMRC I'm leaving the UK?

Yes, you should let HMRC know when you move abroad. This helps them calculate your UK tax refund correctly and decide your residency status.

What is form P85 used for?

Form P85 tells HMRC that you’re leaving the UK and want to claim back any tax you’ve overpaid. It’s the main form used to start your leaving the UK tax refund.

Can I still claim if I’m self-employed?

Yes, but the process is different. You’ll need to submit a Self Assessment tax return. We can help you work out what you’re owed and file everything properly.

What if I return to the UK within the same tax year?

If you come back before the tax year ends, your refund might be affected. You’ll still need to report your income and may need to pay additional tax, depending on your situation.