Getting Tax-Free Interest on Savings or Claiming Tax Back in The UK
If you’re on a low income and have savings with a bank or building society you could be paying tax on your interest when you don’t need to. If this is the case, you can register to have the interest paid tax-free. You can also claim a refund of any tax you’ve overpaid.
Who can get tax-free savings interest?
Banks and building societies usually deduct 20 per cent tax from the interest they pay on most types of savings account. But if your total taxable income is less than your tax-free Personal Allowance (and any Blind Person’s Allowance if you receive this) then you can:
- register to get savings interest paid tax-free
- claim back any tax you’ve paid unnecessarily
Taxable income includes money you earn from a job. But it excludes money you get from certain benefits and some other sources.
Your Personal Allowance is the amount of income you can get tax-free and depends on your age and circumstances.
If you only pay a small amount of Income Tax
If your taxable income is only slightly higher than your tax-free allowance(s) then some or all of your savings interest may be taxable at 10 per cent – the ’starting rate for savings’.
If this applies to you, you’ll probably be able to claim some tax back if it’s been deducted from your interest. The amount you can reclaim is the difference between the tax that was deducted and the amount that’s actually due.
How to get interest without any tax taken off if you’re not a taxpayer
To register to get interest on your savings tax-free you need to fill in form R85 ‘Getting your interest without tax taken off’ and send it to your bank or building society. Some banks and building societies also let you register by phone.
You’ll have to fill in a separate form R85 for each bank or building society where you’ve got accounts. If you open a new account you’ll need to check your income and allowances and fill in a new form.
If you’re under 16, your parent or guardian will have to register for you.
If you’ve turned 16, you’ll have to complete a fresh R85 if it’s appropriate for you to continue getting your interest paid without tax off.
Checking if you can get your interest tax-free
You can check if you can get your interest tax-free by filling in the table in the helpsheet that comes with form R85. Or you can use the simple online checker on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website.
How to claim tax back
If you think you’ve paid too much tax on your interest you can claim it back. To do this you’ll need to fill in a form R40 Tax Repayment Form. You’ll have to do this for each year you think you paid too much tax.
Time limits for claiming back tax
If you’ve overpaid tax you must claim it back up to 31 January five years after the end of the tax year (5 April) in which the overpayment was made. For example, a claim for the tax year 2003-04 which ended on 5 April 2004 must be made by 31 January 2010.
How to claim tax back
If you think you’ve paid too much tax on your interest you can claim it back. To do this you’ll need to fill in a form R40 Tax Repayment Form. You’ll have to do this for each year you think you paid too much tax.
Time limits for claiming back tax
If you’ve overpaid tax you must claim it back up to 31 January five years after the end of the tax year (5 April) in which the overpayment was made. For example, a claim for the tax year 2003-04 which ended on 5 April 2004 must be made by 31 January 2010.
