Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to the UK to travel and work on a working holiday visa. Many travelers do not realise that when they return to their home country they are eligible to claim a tax refund on the taxes they paid in the UK. Here our tax expert answers some questions on how to claim a tax refund if you have been on a working holiday visa in the UK.

I am on a Working Holiday Visa. Can I claim a tax rebate?
Yes. As you are on a working holiday visa, you will be staying in the UK temporarily. As a result you will be able to claim a tax refund.

How much Tax can I claim back? Can I claim it all back?
This will depend on how much you have earned and paid in tax within the tax year. If for example you entered the UK at the start of March and worked immediately, there would only be one month left of the tax year and it is likely you will be able to claim back any tax that you paid. For an estimate of your tax rebate, you can use our tax refund calculator.

What do I need to claim my tax refund?
At the end of the tax year you should be given a P60. You can use this to check and claim your tax refund for the previous tax year. If you are leaving the UK, your employer should provide you with a P45. Once you have this, you can claim a tax refund

I have lost my P60/P45, can I still claim a tax rebate?
Yes. It might take a little longer but it is still possible to claim a tax refund without a P45 or P60. Simply ask all of your employers for a statement of earnings which is a sufficient replacement for a P45/P60 for the Inland Revenue. For more information read our article: claiming tax back without a P45/P60

I was on a working holiday visa but have since returned to my home country, can I still claim a rebate?
Yes. Even if you have returned home, you can still claim a tax refund from when you worked in the UK, as long as you are making your claim for tax paid within the last 6 years.

How long does it take to claim a tax rebate?
If you have your P60/P45 then it usually takes between 40-45 days to claim your tax refund. If you need to get a replacement P60/P45, it can take a little longer.

Can I also claim my National Insurance contributions back if I am on a Working Holiday Visa?
As long as you are living within the UK you can claim back a portion of your national insurance contributions. More information is available on our national insurance refund pages.

If you are on a working holiday visa and have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our tax experts, who will be happy to answer any of your questions