'HMRC said I was entitled to tax refund but I was floored by how much I was owed'

You might be sitting on a tax rebate without even realising it, and there's an easy way to check if you're due a refund. With viral videos circulating online of people claiming back hundreds or even thousands of pounds, one man was over the moon to learn he had some cash coming his way.

Azeez, who goes by azeez.ade on TikTok, shared his excitement when HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) notified him that he'd overpaid on his taxes. Anticipating a hefty sum after seeing others pocket substantial refunds, Azeez was eager to find out what he was owed.

The buzz around tax rebates has been growing, with many Brits discussing their own windfalls and others uncovering a tax loophole to try and shrink their bills.

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He recounted his experience, saying: "They said I paid too much tax, I was like 'yes - my time has come.' I was even waiting. I was like let me see how much it is. I hope it's a lot. I'm already planning my next holiday. Then I see how much it is."

However, Azeez's high hopes came crashing down when he discovered the refund amount was a mere £12.54, leaving him utterly gobsmacked. He humorously expressed his frustration, admitting he was "so annoyed" that he ended up hiding the amount after flashing it a few times.

He remarked: "Me personally, I think there should be a threshold. There should be a certain amount before they can message you telling you you've paid too much tax.

"It should be minimum £500. If it's anything below £500, stop messaging me, just give it back to me. Anything under £500 - don't let us know.

"Anything over £500, then you can send an email, because why are you going to send me an email to say that you owe me £12.54? You know what, I'm not even claiming it back. It's going to stay there."

Azeez expressed his frustration with the trivial sum, suggesting it "wasn't worth" the hassle of claiming. He believes it would be more sensible for them to deduct it from a future bill or add it to his wages, as the notification had raised his expectations a little too much.

The clip has since gone viral, racking up over 80,000 views, and has sparked a flurry of comments, with more than 1,000 people weighing in.

One user joked: "Don't spend it all at once." Another shared their joy: "I got £1,300. I was buzzing."

A third person revealed: "I got nearly £800. Going to book a ticket." A fourth chimed in with: "Every little helps."

Another viewer added a humorous touch, saying: "If it makes you feel any better, I got a car tax refund of £11.66. Got it in cheque form too, haha."

Claiming a tax refund

To find out if you've paid too much tax, you can perform a quick online check. Just head to the official website, follow the prompts and you could soon discover whether you're due a refund.

The Government website states: "You may be able to get a tax refund (rebate) if you've paid too much tax." It says you may be entitled to a refund if you've paid too much on:

• Pay from a job
• Job expenses such as working from home, fuel, work clothing or tools
• A pension
• A Self Assessment tax return
• A redundancy payment
• UK income if you live abroad
• Interest from savings or payment protection insurance (PPI)
• Income from a life or pension annuity
• Foreign income
• UK income earned before leaving the UK

Further, the site advises: "If you've paid too much or too little tax by the end of the tax year (April 5), HMRC will send you either:

• A tax calculation letter (also known as a P800)
• A Simple Assessment letter

"This will tell you how to get a refund or pay tax you owe."