Use this free P85 tax refund calculator to estimate whether you may be owed a tax refund when leaving the UK. If you have worked in the UK and paid Income Tax through PAYE, you may have overpaid tax if you leave before the end of the tax year.
This leaving the UK tax back calculator is designed for employees, migrant workers, seasonal workers, and expats who want to quickly estimate their potential HMRC P85 tax refund before submitting the official form.
How to use this P85 form UK tax refund tool
- Step 1: Select the tax year you are calculating for
- Step 2: Enter your UK employment income and total PAYE tax deducted
- Step 3: Click calculate to see your estimated tax refund or any additional tax you may owe
Calculate your estimated P85 tax refund
How we calculated your estimate
Please note: This is an estimate only. The actual amount of your HMRC P85 tax refund may differ once HMRC reviews your complete circumstances, including any other income, benefits, or tax reliefs you may be entitled to.
Frequently asked questions about leaving the UK tax refund
What is form P85 and when do I need it?
Form P85 is an HMRC form titled "Leaving the UK - getting your tax right". You use it to inform HMRC that you are leaving the UK permanently or going abroad to work full-time. By submitting P85, HMRC can calculate whether you have overpaid Income Tax through PAYE and issue any refund due. You should complete P85 if you are leaving the UK and will not return, or if you are going abroad to work full-time for at least one complete tax year.
Can I claim a tax refund after I leave the UK?
Yes, you can claim a UK tax refund after leaving the country. Many people who leave the UK partway through the tax year have paid too much tax because PAYE is calculated on the assumption you will work for the full year. When you leave early, you may not have used all of your Personal Allowance, resulting in an overpayment. You can claim this overpaid PAYE tax refund by submitting form P85 to HMRC, even after you have left the UK.
Can I use this calculator if I am working abroad full-time?
Yes, this P85 tax refund calculator is suitable for people going abroad to work full-time. If you have worked in the UK earlier in the tax year and then left to work overseas, you may still be entitled to a refund of overpaid UK tax. The calculator helps you estimate whether you have unused Personal Allowance that could result in a refund.
What information do I need before I start?
To use this leaving the UK tax back calculator, you will need: the tax year you are calculating for, the date you left or are leaving the UK, your total UK employment income for that tax year (gross earnings before tax), and the total Income Tax deducted through PAYE. You can find these figures on your P60 (end of year certificate), P45 (if you left employment), or your final payslips. If you have other income or expenses, you can enter these in the advanced options.
How accurate is this P85 tax refund calculator?
This calculator provides a reasonable estimate based on standard UK Income Tax rules, Personal Allowance, and tax bands for recent tax years. However, it is a simplified tool and does not account for every individual circumstance. Factors such as multiple employments, benefits in kind, student loan repayments, pension contributions, or other tax reliefs may affect your actual refund. The estimate should give you a good indication, but only HMRC can confirm the exact amount after reviewing your P85 submission.
How long does it take to get a tax refund from HMRC?
After submitting your P85 form, HMRC typically takes 6 to 12 weeks to process your claim and issue any refund. The refund is usually sent by cheque to your overseas address or by BACS bank transfer if you provide UK bank details. Processing times can vary depending on HMRC workloads and the complexity of your case. You can check the status of your refund by contacting HMRC or using their online services if you have a Government Gateway account.
What is the Personal Allowance and how does it affect my refund?
The Personal Allowance is the amount of income you can earn each tax year before paying Income Tax. For recent tax years, this is £12,570. When you work in the UK for the full tax year, your Personal Allowance is spread across your pay periods. If you leave partway through the year, you may not have used your full allowance, meaning you have paid more tax than necessary. This unused allowance often results in a tax refund for migrant workers and others leaving the UK mid-year.
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment tax return instead of P85?
In some cases, you may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return rather than form P85. This applies if you have self-employment income, significant investment or rental income, capital gains, or if HMRC has asked you to complete Self Assessment. If you only have employment income taxed through PAYE, form P85 is usually sufficient. If you are unsure which form to use, check the GOV.UK guidance or contact HMRC for advice.
Can migrant workers claim a UK tax refund?
Yes, UK migrant worker tax refunds are very common. Many migrant and seasonal workers come to the UK for only part of the tax year. Because PAYE assumes you will work all year, tax is deducted at a rate that may be too high for your actual earnings. When you leave, you may be entitled to reclaim some of this overpaid tax. This P85 tax refund calculator helps migrant workers estimate their potential refund before submitting the official form to HMRC.
What happens if I owe additional tax instead of getting a refund?
In some cases, the calculator may show that you owe additional tax rather than receiving a refund. This can happen if you had multiple jobs with incorrect tax codes, received untaxed income, or if too little tax was deducted by your employer. If you owe tax, you will need to pay HMRC the difference. It is important to submit form P85 or a Self Assessment return so HMRC can confirm the amount and arrange payment terms if needed.