Using form R40 to claim a tax refund

If you are entitled to a refund of tax deducted from savings and investment income, you can claim the refund using form R40 if you do not complete a Self-assessment return. If you do complete a Self Assessment tax return, you do not need to make a separate claim as any tax due to you will be taken into account in computing the amount due or repayable under Self Assessment. A claim can be made on form R40 for the current tax year and the previous four tax years.

If you are claiming for yourself, you can make the claim online or by using the postal form. If you are claiming on behalf of someone else, you will need to use the postal form, which is available on the Gov.uk website at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-refund-of-income-tax-deducted-from-savings-and-investments.

To make the claim, you will need to provide your details and income details. This will include employment income, pension income, state benefits, interest and dividend income, income from trusts, settlements, and estates, and income from UK land and property. You will also need to provide details of payments made under gift aid and indicate whether you are entitled to the blind person’s allowance and the married couple’s allowance. You must also provide details of the address to which the repayment should be sent.

Using an agent

An agent can also make a refund claim on your behalf. Since 30 April 2024, agents claiming a refund of income tax deducted from savings and investment income on behalf of their clients must use the new standard HMRC R40 form. If the agent is the nominated third party to whom the repayment is to be paid, they must complete the nomination section on the new form and provide their agent reference number (ARN). If the claim is made on a different version of the form, it will still be accepted, but the nomination section will be disregarded and the claim will be paid directly to the client rather than to the agent. The client will also need to complete the section of the form indicating that they are nominating a professional to act on their behalf. If this section of the form is not completed correctly, the repayment will be made to the client rather than to the agent.

R40 claims for interest paid on payment protection insurance

Where the R40 repayment claim relates to interest on payment protection insurance (PPI), evidence of the original PPI payment must be submitted when making the claim. The document must show the gross interest, the tax deducted, and the net interest. This could be a certificate from the company that made the refund, showing the tax deducted from the refund, or a final response letter from the company making the refund.

Partner note: www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-refund-of-income-tax-deducted-from-savings-and-investments; www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-121/issue-121-of-agent-update.

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