First of all, ensure that:
- Your Self-Assessment tax return (or CIS reclaim claim form) has been filled in properly.
- The CIS deductions have been considered.
- The bank details you provided are correct.
CIS refunds are normally issued once you have submitted your form to HMRC.
- Normal processing time
- On-line claims: 2-4 weeks
- Claim made on paper: up to 8-10 weeks
Anything that exceeds this is fair to chase.
- Chasing HMRC directly
To chase your tax refund, contact HMRC:
Helpline for Self-Assessment: 0300 200 3310 (United Kingdom)
When you do this, have the following prepared:
- UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference)
- National Insurance Number
- Information about your claim
Ask them:
- If your claim has been processed
- If a refund has been issued
- If there are any checks outstanding
- Log into your online account
Go into your HMRC account, and:
- Find “View your latest Self-Assessment return”
- Check your refund status and messages
Sometimes, your refund is held up because of security checks or missing information.
- Potential reasons for the delay
The HMRC might withhold your refund because of:
- HMRC compliance audits
- Difference in CIS deduction and contractor submission
- Bank account information to verify
- Tax due from previous years
- Letter to HMRC (optional)
If calls don’t solve the problem, you could write a formal letter asking for an update. Your letter should include:
- UTR
- Tax year
- Money owed to you
- Ask for timeline
- Hire an accountant (optional but recommended)
An accountant can help resolve the problem by:
- Contacting HMRC via agent lines
- Finding the problem more quickly
- Sending your case to the next level
- Tip of the day
If your refund is overdue by 6-8 weeks, make sure you call HMRC. Delays are frequent, but they will release the refund soon after being contacted.
If you wish, let me know how long you have been waiting and how you submitted your tax return. I would be glad to provide guidance on what could be wrong.