You filed on time. You checked the maths twice. By all accounts, that refund should be on its way.

For a lot of our clients, it still isn't.

If you're self-employed, in self-assessment, or running a small business, you've probably noticed that HMRC repayments are taking longer than the timescales HMRC itself publishes. Here's what's actually going on, and what will help while you wait.

The short answer

If you filed online, your figures match HMRC's records, and nothing gets flagged for a check, a Self Assessment refund can still land within one to two weeks of your return being processed. If your claim is made by post, or your return is selected for review, it can take considerably longer, sometimes months. The sections below explain why, and what to do about it.

What's actually happening with HMRC refunds right now

HMRC has been open about the fact that parts of its service are still catching up. Ongoing digital system changes, including the wider rollout of Making Tax Digital, a backlog carried over from previous years, and a higher rate of security checks on repayments all play a part. None of this is new for 2026, but it's still catching people out, because the timescales HMRC quotes as standard are not always the timescales people actually experience.

"We're still getting calls most weeks from clients who filed everything correctly and are simply waiting. It's rarely anything they've done wrong, HMRC's own systems are just taking longer to work through the queue than they used to." — David Rogers, Managing Director, Bernard Rogers & Co

How long should a refund actually take?

There isn't one HMRC refund timescale, because it depends on the type of refund and how it was claimed.

Why the wait can still feel endless

Three things tend to stretch a refund out well beyond the published timescale.

Security checks. HMRC runs checks on a proportion of repayments before releasing them. This is routine and doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong with your return, but it does add time, sometimes several weeks.

Busy periods. The weeks after the 31 January Self Assessment deadline, and the run up to the end of the tax year in April, are when HMRC sees the highest volume of returns and refund requests. Anything filed close to those dates tends to move more slowly.

Small inconsistencies. A figure that doesn't quite match what HMRC already holds on file, an old address, or a change in bank details can all be enough to flag a return for a closer look.

HMRC does still offer a tool to estimate reply times, called Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC. It's updated weekly and currently covers Self Assessment, PAYE, VAT, Corporation Tax, tax credits, Inheritance Tax and Child Benefit queries. It's worth using, but it estimates when HMRC will respond to your query, not necessarily when the money will land in your account.

What actually helps while you wait

There's no way to jump the HMRC queue, but a few things genuinely make a difference.

1. Check your Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app directly, rather than waiting for a letter. Repayment status often updates there before anything is posted out.
2. Use HMRC's Check when you can expect a reply tool for a realistic estimate, rather than assuming the worst after a few quiet weeks.
3. Make sure your bank details are current in your Government Gateway account. HMRC can't pay a refund to an old account, and a cheque will always take longer than a bank transfer.
4. Keep your UTR and National Insurance number to hand. If you do need to call HMRC, having these ready saves a lot of time on the call itself.
5. Get your return checked before it's submitted. A surprising number of delayed refunds come down to small inconsistencies that trigger a manual review, and it's exactly the kind of thing our accounts and personal tax compliance service is there to catch before HMRC does.
   
   

If your return has been flagged for a security check

If HMRC tells you your repayment is subject to a security check, that isn't automatically a red flag on your return. It usually just means your claim has been picked for a closer look before release, and it can add several weeks to the process.

If the date HMRC gave you has passed with no update, the next step is to contact HMRC directly with your UTR to hand. If it's been going on for an unreasonable length of time with no explanation, you're entitled to raise a formal complaint, and that route has helped several of our clients get a stalled case moving again.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Self Assessment refund take in 2026?

If you filed online and nothing is flagged for review, HMRC's target is around one to two weeks once your return is processed. Postal claims and amendments typically take six to eight weeks, and longer during busy periods.

How long does a PAYE tax refund take? 

A PAYE overpayment (P800) claimed online usually takes around two to three weeks, though many straightforward cases are quicker. Refunds sent by cheque take longer to arrive than a payment straight to your bank account.

Why is my tax refund taking so long? 

The most common reasons are a security check on your repayment, submitting your claim during a busy period such as after the January deadline, or a small mismatch between your return and the information HMRC already holds.

What if my HMRC refund still hasn't arrived? 

Start by checking your Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app for an updated status. If the expected date has passed, use HMRC's Check when you can expect a reply tool, and contact HMRC directly with your UTR if there's still no movement.

Can I speed up an HMRC tax refund? 

Not directly, but you can avoid unnecessary delays. Filing online rather than by post, keeping your bank details up to date, and having your return checked for inconsistencies before submission all reduce the chance of it being held up.

How we can help

"More than once this year we've had a return sail through in under two weeks, and an almost identical one from another client sit with HMRC for months with no explanation given. The frustrating part for clients is never knowing which one they're going to get. That's usually where we step in, chasing it on their behalf so they're not the one stuck on hold." — David Rogers, Managing Director, Bernard Rogers & Co

If you're waiting on a refund and getting nowhere, or you'd rather someone checked your return before you submit it, that's exactly the kind of thing we deal with day to day. Get in touch and we'll chase HMRC on your behalf where we can, keep you posted, and make sure nothing in your own paperwork is the reason it's stuck.