Tax and Savings
Are you entitled to a tax refund on your savings?
If you have savings with a bank or building society and you are on a low income, you may be paying interest when you shouldn’t be. If this is the case you can register for any further interest to be paid tax free and you will also be entitled to a rebate on any tax already paid.
On this page you will find information about:
Can I get tax-free savings interest
If your total taxable income is less than your tax-free Personal Allowance (and any Blind Person’s Allowance if you receive this) then you will be entitled to tax free interest on your savings.
This means you do not need to pay the 20 per cent tax that banks deduct from the interest they pay on most types of savings account.
It is not only those whose total taxable income is less than their tax-free Personal Allowance that can benefit from tax breaks on savings interest. If your taxable income is only slightly higher than your tax-free allowance(s) then you may be entitled to pay less tax on your savings interest. It may be the case that some or all of your savings interest may be taxable at only 10 per cent.
If this applies to you, as well as applying to reduce the amount of tax that is deducted from your savings interest in the future, you should be able to claim some tax back from that which has already been deducted.
How do I get interest without any tax taken off if I’m not a taxpayer
You can register to get interest on your savings tax-free by filling in an R85 form which is entitled ‘Getting your interest without tax taken off’.
This form is available from HMRC and it needs to be sent to your bank or building society once completed. Some banks and building societies will let you register by phone so it is worth checking whether this is the case for you.
How do I claim tax back that has already been deducted?
You can claim tax back if you think you’ve paid too much on your interest you by filling in an R40 Tax Repayment Form.
These forms are available from HMRC and a separate form will need to be filled in for each year you wish to claim for. In most cases you’ll get back the tax you’ve overpaid as long as you claim on time. You can claim tax back on savings interest for up to five years ago.
What should I do if my circumstances change?
If your income goes up or your tax allowances go down and your total taxable income is no longer lower than your tax free allowance(s) you will no longer be entitled to tax free interest on your savings.
It is important to tell your bank or building society straight away about such changes so they can start taking tax off your interest. If you fail to do this you will receive a tax bill at the end of the year.
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
Left or Leaving the UK Tax Claim Refunds includes:
When am I entitled to leaving the UK tax back?
How much UK tax back can I receive?
Do I need to complete Tax Claim Forms when leaving the UK?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?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
