There are many types of tax rebates or refunds, one in particular being a uniform tax rebate.

Tax rebates or refunds are where a person has paid too much income tax and is therefore entitled to receive a rebate from the tax collection body, in the UK this being HMRC.

The most common form of tax rebates are where a person has paid too much work for one year (for example they haven’t worked a full year), they are on a incorrect tax code, they have recently married and so on. The maximum period in the UK someone can claim back is 4 years.

To apply for a rebate it is normally necessary to contact the tax collection body by post, with all the relevant details why you think you’ve overpaid and any supporting evidence. The tax body will then normally perform a tax calculation and if any tax has been overpaid issue you with a cheque in your name for this amount.

If you’re self employed often your accountant will do this for you. Depending on the tax rebate in question it can sometimes take as little as 4 weeks to receive a rebate.