how many years can i claim too much tax paid?

Question

... i work since 11 months in the uk now, and used/abused the taxman as my piggybank by keeping taxcode BR. and i would go ahead doing so. but how long can i claim overpaid money?

thanks
niels

Answer 1

I don't understand tucksie's comment about HMRC not being legally obliged to repay overpaid tax - this is nonsense. HMRC are only too pleased to refund overpaid tax.
You should ask your employer for the name and reference number of your tax office and contact them immediately to ask for a form P86. Fill it in and send it to the tax office, marked URGENT, repayment - better still, take it in if you can. They shoudl then issue you with a proper code number and you should get your refund through your wages.
Many people blame the tax office for deducting too much tax from them, but in my experience, employers are as much to blame as they fail to tel HMRC about new employees, especially when they don't have a P45, and then they dont bother to give them a P46 to fill in - resulting in BR tax being deducted.
I suspect that your employer has failed to give you a P46, resulting in BR tax - you could have sorted this out ages ago had you been properly advised. HMRC are not monsters - they can be asked for help and will normally give it!

Answer 2

Certainly as long as six years and sometimes longer.

Answer 3

6 years max, but you may find they refuse to repay and it's perfectly legal if they do.