Left or Leaving the UK
Claiming Tax Back if you have left / are leaving the UK
If you have worked and been resident in the UK and have left to live somewhere else during the last four tax years, you may be able to claim back some or all of the tax you have paid.
On this page you will find information about:
When am I entitled to leaving the UK Tax Back?
You may be able to claim leaving the UK tax back if any of the following apply:
Your tax code is or was incorrect.
You did not use all your tax free allowance during the tax year in which you left the UK.
You have not reclaimed all the expenses for which you are eligible. These may include professional fees, the cost of tools and equipment for work purposes, business mileage, or laundry costs for uniforms.
How much UK tax back can I receive?
You may be due several hundred pounds, or more depending on your circumstances.
If you are eligible to claim leaving the UK tax back the amount will depend on your income and how much tax you have paid. All sources of income are taken into account, including earnings, interest on savings and investments, money from rental properties, and benefits.
Do I need to complete Tax Claim Forms when leaving the UK?
When you leave the UK to live elsewhere, you should fill in a P85 form.
This form should be sent to HMRC, who will issue a tax refund if one is due. The P85 form contains information concerning your employment in the UK and elsewhere, and the date that you leave the UK.
Do I need any other forms?
In many cases you will need to submit a P45, P60 or P11d certificates alongside your P85 form when leaving the UK. These certificates allow HMRC to calculate any leaving the UK tax rebate you may be due, accurately and quickly:
It is important that your final P45 form is included, if this applies to you. Your P45 is provided by your employer when you finish work. If for some reason you are unable to obtain a P45, you should ask your most recent employer(s) for a statement of earnings.
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment tax return?
When leaving the UK each application for a tax rebate will be considered separately.
HMRC will look at your personal circumstances to determine if you are due a tax refund. It may be necessary for you to complete a Self Assessment tax return when you leave the UK. If so, you will be contacted by HRMC after you have submitted your P85. If a Self Assessment tax return is requested, you will not receive any refund until this is completed.
You are likely to be asked to complete a Self Assessment tax return if you are self-employed, or if you receive money from other forms of income such as rental properties in the UK. You may also be asked to complete a Self Assessment tax return in some other circumstances.
For further Tax Refund information, please follow the links below:
Tax Refunds by Employment
Healthcare Worker Tax Rebates includes:
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Professional Fees?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for the Cost of Shoes and Tights?
What about Tax Relief for Laundry Costs?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Specialist Equipment?Nurse Tax Refunds includes:
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of laundering of Uniform
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of shoes and tights
Nurse Tax relief for professional fees – RCN Tax, Unison Tax, NMC Tax
Nurse Tax Relief for use of own car or public transport for work purposesTeacher Tax Refunds includes:
Teacher Tax Relief for professional fees – NUT tax relief, NASUWT tax relief.
Teacher Tax Relief Books and Journals
Teacher Tax Relief for specialist clothing
Teacher Tax Relief for Equipment Purchased for Work Use
Teacher Tax Relief for qualifying travelling expenses- Tax Relief for Washing of Uniform includes:
Am I Eligible for Uniform Tax Relief for Washing Uniform?
What am I actually claiming back?
How much will I get from a Uniform Tax Relief claim?
Can I claim for any other Tax Relief? Mechanic Tax Claim Refunds includes:
Tool Tax relief– What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tool Tax relief– What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Tax Claim Refunds for Trades / Construction Industry Workers under PAYE includes:
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for other using Public Transport?
What about Accommodation and Subsistence?
Tool Tax Refund: What are Flat Rate Expenses
Tool Tax Refund – What are Capital Allowances?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Doctor Tax Refunds includes:
Doctors Tax relief for professional fees
Doctors tax relief for Professional Indemnity Insurance
Doctor Tax Relief for business use of car
Tools and equipment purchased for work usePolice Tax Refunds includes:
Police Officers Tax Relief for the Cost Of Laundering Uniform
Police Tax Relief for the cost of Police Federation Fees
Police Tax Relief for Business use of own car or public transport for work purposesStudent Tax Refund includes:
If I am a student can I claim a Student Tax Refund?
What About if I work during the Summer?
Tax Refunds for Expenses
Business Mileage Tax Refunds includes:
What is Business Mileage?
What counts as a Temporary Workplace?
What are the Business Mileage Rate Allowances?
Travel Expenses – Can I claim any further Tax Relief?Travel Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travel to a temporary workplace?
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travelling to work in different locations?
If I use public transport can I claim tax relief for a travel card?
When can I claim tax relief for Subsistence and accommodation?
Do I need to use the cheapest transport or accommodation to claim tax relief?
Travel Expenses – How much can I claim?Subsistence Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
What Is Subsistence?
What Is A Temporary Workplace?
Do I Need Records?
My Employer Reimburses Me Can I Still Claim?Tools for Work Use Tax Refunds includes:
Tools Tax – When am I Eligible for Tax Relief on Tools, Equipment and Specialist Clothing?
Tools Tax – What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tax relief for tools – What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?
Tax Refunds for Tax Code
Income Tax Code Refund includes:
How do I know if my tax code is wrong?
How do I reclaim a Tax Code Tax Refund?
Tax Refunds for Left The UK
UK Non Resident Tax Refunds includes:
What is Non-Resident Status?
What is a Double Taxation Agreement?
What sort of UK Income is eligible for tax relief?
How do I apply for UK Non-Resident Tax Relief?
Do I need to Complete a Self Assessment Form?UK Non Resident Landlords Tax Refunds includes:
What is the UK Non Resident Landlord Scheme?
What if the property is administered by Letting Agents?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Property Expenses?
How does the Non Resident Landlord Scheme affect my Tax payments?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?
How does other income affect my tax allowance?Seafarers Tax Refund includes:
What is Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction?
Who can claim SED?
What information do I need?
How do I claim?
CIS Tax Refunds
CIS Tax Refunds includes:
What is a CIS Tax Refund?
How do I get a CIS Tax Refund?
What is the average CIS Tax Refund?
Should I fill in my Tax Return myself or use an Accountant?
CIS Tax Refunds – important to know
Other Tax Refunds
Car Tax Refund includes:
Can I get a refund on my Car Tax/Vehicle Tax?Council Tax Rebate includes:
Can I claim a Council Tax rebate?Gift Aid includes:
What is Gift Aid?
What kind of Donations Apply to Gift Aid?
Gift Aid Claim Tax Refund!
How Do I make a Gift Aid Claim?NI Refund includes:
For the Employed
Missing National Insurance Years
National Insurance Refund if you have left the UK
Class 1 National Insurance and the State Pension Scheme
National Insurance Refund for the Self EmployedVAT Refund includes:
VAT Refund for Individuals
VAT Refund if you live in the EU
VAT Refund if you live outside the EU
VAT Refund if you work or study in the UK but live outside the EU
VAT Refund for Business
More Info
For more information please see:
- VAT Refunds for goods bought in the UK
- UK Income Tax
- UK Tax Codes
- Free Leaving the UK Tax Back Calculator.
