Repayment Pending? It has been over 5 months

I submitted my Self assessment tax return in October 2023. There has been a 'bank repayment pending' for my refund since December but it still has not been paid. I have called HMRC over 3 times and every time a new date/time as 'the case is with the security team'. Each time I have called, the expected date is 5-6 weeks away. I wait until the date passes, call back to only hear the same situation again with a revised date. The last date this was expected to be resolved was in May 2024, I called HMRC only to be told the same thing and a new date in August 2024? By that time it has been almost 10 months since my Self assessment submission, and over 7 months with the amount sitting as 'repayment pending'. The HMRC team are unable to advise or do anything but send a referral (which was done the previous times I have called). What can I do here as this seems to be a repeating pattern, with months of waiting time only to be told the same thing again?

I’m in exactly the same situation. It’s a complete joke. I’ve called multiple times and also keep getting fobbed off. How can it take 5months to complete a security check. Seems like the UK government is in such a mess it needs to no rob its taxpayers. I’ve raised a complaint and still waiting a callback. Absolute disgrace.

Hi B Kaps,
If the repayment has been selected for security and the timescale for the checks to be completed has passed then it would need to be a referral that is sent. I apologise for the delay in the checks being completed, but, the referral will allow the department dealing with the checks to review this for you. 
Thank you.

I am also in the same boat as both of you guys. Admittedly I hadn't registered for CIS but that has been done now. I sent all the relevant documents to HMRC by Special Delivery next day by 1pm. I tracked the letter and it appears to have been signed for at 4:03am which is very bizarre. I keep trying to access the online chat but for over a month now this has been having problems. I have reported it 6 times and each time received a reference number and replying stating someone will be in touch within 2 working days. Never once had a response. I find this very unfair and frustrating that HMRC are able to withhold a repayment without having a definite deadline in which to resolve any issue they have. It should work both ways. We have deadlines in which to submit our self assessment otherwise we are fined. My repayment delay is approaching 6 months. I have this years read to submit, but no point until they have paid last years. PLEASE, can you advise what I can do to help speed up this repayment? Thank you for your help.

Hi Nathan P,
I am sorry for the delay in the repayment being issued. To review this we will need to access your record. You can contact HMRC to review at Self Assessment: general enquiries.
Thank you.

Thank you for your reply but it's not very helpful. You have failed to address the problem of the online chat facility not working in my original post. I have spoken to HMRC and was told it is going through security checks and would be finalised by 05/05/25... It clearly hasn't been finalised as I have still not received my money. Put yourself in mine and all the others position who have not received their over-payment. Would you find this acceptable? I think not, so PLEASE would you address the situation of the length security is taking? Maybe they should not pick so many out to scrutinise at once and this may lessen the delays.

Hi NSP2002 I think that is where the problem lies, they select far too many for their checks as they clearly don't have the staff to do this work, last year they actually closed down their Helpline which in its self is scandless. Questions for HMRC 1. What is the percetntage of those selected 50%, 60% or more? 2. Why select so many if you don't have the staff to administer these in say a 6 week time frame? 3. Has anyone selected for checks from 2023/24 tax returns been paid out yet as I certainly don't know anyone who has? Won't hold my breath on a reply as that unfortuneatly is the way HMRC is run, avoid the difficult questions. Thought the Post Office were badly run, well HMRC is no better and heads should roll

Hi BigJohnTheBrikkie

1. I am unable to provide the percentage of repayments selected for security checks.
2. Once selected the timescale for the checks to be completed can take up to  6 weeks, but, it can take longer due to the high volume of repayment requests or if addditional information is needed.
I apologise for the delay if you have not yet received your repayment.
3. Yes there will be repayments that were selected that have been issued.
To review your repayment you can contact HMRC by phone/webchat at Self Assessment: general enquiries

Thank you

After being told by HMRC last time I called that my repayment should be processed by 8th July - I checked today and it was still showing as repayment pending. I rang HMRC again and asked for a progress report, only to be told that it should have been released for payment and someone would call me back today. True to their word someone did call me back, to confirm that the repayment has now been released and should be paid within the next ten days. This was for a 23-24 SA return submitted in late April. It still shows as pending on the HMRC site - but apparently this takes a day or so to synchronise - let's see if if the payment appears in the next week or so.

I submitted my tax returns in April we are now in August. I have repayments pending which I was informed would be 10 days. I have contacted HMRC special advisors (I have a mental health condition) and they informed me I’ll now have to wait until September for security checks to take place? I’m using the repayment to pay for mental health treatment. I have sent two complaint letters (no response) and I’ve also emailed the new MP for our constituency. HMRC this is appalling making people wait for refunds. If there is not enough staff then get temporary workers in to clear the backlog! This is an unfair system for UK Taxpsyers!

I am also in same boat. Submitted Self Assessment in last oct for 22/23 tax year, repayment is pending from that time onwards. I have submitted repayment request to go bank account multiple times but nothing been paid so far. Reading to the above comments its very scary and yesterday i did SA for 23/24 which also have repayment expected. Can someone guide whom should i reach out here for prompt resolution.

My wife submitted a repayment and got it in days. I did mine and have had nothing for months. How do I even know they’ve received the request? I don’t know anything.

Hi All. I’ve shared a lot of the delays with getting my overpaid tax back. However, happy to say after several months of waiting it arrived. Just wanted to give you all hope Submitted return and then as soon as I could requested the refund repayment. Nothing seemed to change so did it again, and again, and again. No luck. Trying to call through and always got cut off. But last week, on the phone for an hour and eventually got through. Explained to the operator about delays and she took my bank details and said it would be paid within 10 days. She couldn’t see reason for the delay. 2 days later changed to Bank Repayment Pending and 2 days later Repayment completed. Money in the account 2 days later. Eventually after quite a wait. But for all those out there waiting, best of luck, and keep trying to call and speak to someone….seems to be only way to speed things up.

Pear to Pear .

I’m in the same situation, this is a joke because we need to pay in time, every time every week I pay the CIS, my repayment still pending since 8 of June and until today 2 months, I don’t have any explication from them, all of my family and friends take it into they account in 2 weeks , and my one still there pending .

Hi
We are unable to check personal tax records through the forum. You should contact our helpine so we can review the information we hold see link: Income Tax: general enquiries

I am in a similar situation although it says a tax refund is due and I did my return for the last year 2023-24 on June 21st 2024, it says online that it is normally sent 2 weeks ago, I still cannot find anywhere that says I can request it now, Moderator or hmrc customers services please help

I am also is same situation. I has almost 3 months and nothing is received. Calling to HMRC has 20 to 30 mins waiting time which is also frustrating. Is it any easy way to communicate and resolve this issues.

Hi Amit Kumar,
If you have not yet received the repayment then you will need to contact HMRC to review this for you.
Self Assessment: general enquiries
Thank you. 

I am in the same situation and I submited my tax refund in January. My tax refund is still sitting in pending since January!!! I've called at least 3 times and have performed additional security checks over the phone such as the exact date I submitted my return and what the amount of my last payment I had to make to HMRC. Each time they put me on hold and can't give me an adequete answer as to why it's still in pending, why additional checks need to be made (even though I went through additional security q's on the phone and my details including bank haven't changed!) and they can't tell me when I expect it to be paid. All they tell me that is that they've put a referral onto my account. The previous call I was told a lie that it would be paid into my account in August. I've asked to speak to a manager and told there are none available. This is unacceptable. We are in a cost of living crisis and I'm still unemployed. It's completely unfair that HMRC are withholding my money that's owed to me for 8 months now! If I'm unable to receveie a satisfactory response my next course of action is to contact the ombudsman and/or the media.

Hi J Mic124,
I can appreciate your frustration but if your repayment is not yet issued then you will need to contact HMRC to review this for you
Self Assessment: general enquiries
Thank you.