Claim Your Tax Back / Lesson 7 of 7
Why you do not need a refund agent
Sam got £412 back. The agent kept £165 of it. The claim took twelve minutes.
The short answer
- ✓ Refund agents submit the same claim you can make free in about 15 minutes
- ✓ They have no special access or ability to obtain more relief
- ✓ Never sign a deed of assignment: it can redirect unrelated refunds too
- ✓ Check your Personal Tax Account for agents already authorised in your name
What happened to Sam
Sam saw an advert promising a uniform tax rebate, clicked, and filled in a short form. Some weeks later a cheque arrived for £247. The claim had actually been worth £412. The agent had taken the rest as a fee, which Sam had agreed to in the terms without reading them.
None of this was fraudulent. The agent did exactly what it said it would. It is just that the claim Sam paid £165 for is one HMRC lets you make yourself, free, in about a quarter of an hour.
What these agents actually do
They submit the same P87 you could submit. They have no special access, no negotiating power and no ability to obtain relief you could not obtain yourself. The product they sell is the fact that you did not know the claim existed.
| Claiming direct | Through an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Commonly a large share of the refund |
| Time for you | About 15 minutes | About 5 minutes |
| Who is paid | You | The agent, who then forwards the rest |
| Future years | Sits in your code, yours | May be assigned to the agent |
The bit that causes real damage: deeds of assignment
Some agents ask you to sign a deed of assignment. That legally redirects your tax repayments to them, and depending on how it is worded it can cover all repayments for a tax year, not just the claim they made.
People have signed one for a small uniform claim and later found an unrelated refund, sometimes a much larger one, paid to the agent instead of to them. A deed of assignment is not easily undone.
The bit HMRC does not spell out
Before assuming you are owed nothing, check whether a claim has already been made in your name. Some people discover an agent they barely remember engaging has been receiving their refunds for years. You can see who is authorised to act for you in your Personal Tax Account, and you can remove an authorisation there.
How to claim direct, in order
- Sign in to your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK
- Check whether an agent is already authorised, and remove any you did not intend
- Work out which reliefs apply, using the earlier lessons in this course
- Submit a P87 covering every eligible year
- Check the code change that follows, and tell HMRC if circumstances change
If you do want help
Using an agent is a legitimate choice if you would rather not deal with it. If you do: agree the fee as a fixed amount rather than a percentage where possible, never sign a deed of assignment, and check what happens to future years.
You have reached the end
You now know which reliefs exist, what each is worth, how to claim, how far back you can go, and how to keep all of the money. The exam covers all three modules.
Try it on your own numbers
This is the same calculator as the full tool page, using 2026/27 rates.
About you
Your income sets your tax rate - which decides what each claim is worth to you.
Which of these apply to you?
Tick everything that's true - most people qualify for more than one.
Extra relief only applies to higher/additional-rate taxpayers.
Your result
Yes - HMRC could owe you to
across claims - every one is free to make directly with HMRC. Never give a refund agent 25–30% of your own money.
No obvious refund found
Nothing you ticked points to an overpayment. If your circumstances change - job move, working from home, marriage - come back and re-check.
Estimates only, not advice - the exact amount depends on your full tax position. Confirm on GOV.UK before claiming.
Most claims can be backdated up to 4 tax years - the sooner you claim, the less you lose.
Saved checks
| Check | Claims found | Estimated refund | |
|---|---|---|---|
Key takeaways
- ✓ Refund agents submit the same claim you can make free in about 15 minutes
- ✓ They have no special access or ability to obtain more relief
- ✓ Never sign a deed of assignment: it can redirect unrelated refunds too
- ✓ Check your Personal Tax Account for agents already authorised in your name
Check you have got it
3 quick questions. No score is kept, and you can change your mind.
1. What can a refund agent obtain that you cannot?
2. What is the risk of signing a deed of assignment?
3. How can you check whether an agent is already claiming in your name?
Sources
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