HMRC has sent out one million brown envelopes containing an average tax refund boost of £473 for UK households. The tax authority issued an update on X, formerly Twitter, urging people to check if they are owed money.
HMRC's Social Media Appeal
In a post on Friday, April 24, the Labour Party government's tax department wrote: "Remember getting a letter about a tax refund but didn't do anything about it? Last year, almost 1 million people didn't claim back the money they're owed." The update added: "On average people get £473 back when claiming a tax refund. Download the HMRC app to check."
How the HMRC App Helps
The HMRC app provides quick access to information about tax, National Insurance, and benefits. Users can check their tax code, National Insurance number, income and benefits, and employment history from the past five years. They can also view their Unique Taxpayer Reference for Self Assessment, check how much tax they owe, manage Child Benefit, view their State Pension forecast, and identify gaps in National Insurance contributions.
Additionally, the app allows users to estimate tax payments, make Self Assessment or Simple Assessment payments, set payment reminders, notify HMRC if a tax return is no longer needed, and access Help to Save accounts. A tax calculator helps work out take-home pay after deductions, and users can track forms and letters sent to HMRC or claim refunds for overpaid tax.
Other Features
The app also enables users to save their National Insurance number to a digital wallet, check for gaps in contributions and the benefits of filling them, and make payments for those gaps. HMRC’s digital assistant is available for help and information.
Repayment Methods
An HMRC spokesperson said: "The vast majority of PAYE repayments are issued via bank transfer, which is now the default option, and the quickest and most secure way for customers to receive their money. Customers can still request to receive their repayment via cheque and it's their responsibility to cash it if they choose this method."
