Thinking of travelling to the UK and funding your adventures with some short-term work? You’re not alone. Each year the UK plays host to thousands of visitors travelling on a working holiday visa Tier 5
(Youth Mobility Scheme) visa. What most folk don’t realise is that, once you leave and return back home, you are able to claim back the tax you paid while in the UK. Horrah! Anyway you can claim back your heard earned cash is worth doing so, so to help you out, we’ve answered some common questions below.
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I am on a Working Holiday Visa. Can I claim a tax rebate?
Yes! Given the working holiday visa is just that, a working holiday, you will only be staying in the UK temporarily. As a result you will be able to claim a tax refund.
How much Tax can I claim back? Can I claim it all back?
That really depends on how much you have earned and paid in tax within the tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. So for example, if you entered the UK at the start of March and worked immediately, there would only be one month left of the tax year. In this case you’d be unlikely to be able to claim back any tax paid. But this is a worst-case scenario, and most travellers will work during the summer months for example when the end of the tax year is still a long way off. For an estimate of your tax rebate, take a look at this tax refund calculator.
What do I need to claim my tax refund?
At the end of the tax year you should be given a P60. You will need this to check and claim your tax refund for the previous tax year. If you are leaving the UK, make sure your last employer provides you with a P45. Once you have this, you can claim a tax refund. Simple!
I have lost my P60/P45, can I still claim a tax rebate?
You sure can. It can be a little more awkward and take longer but it is still possible to claim a tax refund without a P45 or P60. Just ask all of your employers for a statement of earnings. This will serve as a replacement for a P45/P60 for the UK’s Inland Revenue. More info can be found here: claiming tax back without a P45/P60
I was on a working holiday visa but have since returned to my home country, can I still claim a rebate?
Of course! Even if you have returned home, you can still claim a tax refund from when you worked in the UK, as long as you are making your claim for tax paid within the last 6 years. So don’t hang about.
How long does it take to claim a tax rebate?
If you have your P60/P45 you can expect to wait around 40-45 days to claim your money back. If you need to get a replacement P60/P45, it can take a little longer, but you’ll get it back eventually so it’s worth the wait.
Where can I apply for an HMRC Tax Refund Online?
You can lodge your application for free online via the HMRC website. Follow the below link to the HMRC website.
Alternatively, you can file your online application via our website taxback.co.uk/apply now. Our agents will review your information and then contact you with any questions. You could also call our UK based office to discuss your application and we can make sure you’ve claimed for everything you are eligible for. This could include work travel expenses, clothing, business mileage or even part of your rent and service costs if you’ve been working from home. We can also assist you in claiming back up to four previous tax years, meaning you could claim back your 2015-16 tax year, 2014-15 tax year, 2013-14 tax year and 2012-13 tax years.
For more information on how to lodge your UK Tax Return online fill out our online form or give our team a call on the below number.
We hope you’ve enjoyed your UK working holiday and look forward to helping you raise some funds for your next journey.