You filed your Self Assessment, HMRC owes you money, and now you’re waiting. And waiting. If your HMRC repayment is taking too long, you’re not alone — this is one of the most common frustrations people raise on forums like r/HMRC, with some waiting 2+ months for money that should be theirs.
One Reddit user, waiting for a Self Assessment repayment of approximately £3,000, reported: “I’ve been waiting for this for two months now. When I call them they just tell me to wait. Is anyone else in the same boat?” Another had been waiting since the previous tax year — their refund didn’t arrive until October, nearly 7 months after claiming it.
Here’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes, why your refund is stuck, and exactly what you can do about it.
Why HMRC Repayments Take So Long
According to HMRC’s own guidance, repayments are usually processed within 2 weeks. In reality, the timeline varies wildly:
- Fast cases: 1–2 weeks if no checks are triggered — one Reddit user reported their refund arriving within 2 weeks of claiming
- Typical cases: 4–8 weeks, with no updates in between
- Stuck cases: 3+ months, often with no explanation — another user was told their repayment was “going through security checks and should have a response by September 9th,” nearly 3 months after the original request
The gap between “should take 2 weeks” and “actually takes 3 months” comes down to one phrase: security checks.
What “Security Checks” Actually Means
When you request a repayment, HMRC runs automated security checks before releasing the money. These checks are not explained to you — you simply see “pending” on your account, and when you call, you’re told to “wait.”
Security checks can be triggered by:
- First-time repayment requests — if you’ve never had a refund before, HMRC’s system flags it for review
- Large repayment amounts relative to your declared income — e.g., if you earned £25,000 and are claiming a £4,000 repayment, the ratio raises a flag
- Changes to your bank details — if you’ve updated your bank account since your last repayment
- Repayments that follow an amendment to your return — amending your return and then claiming a refund is a common trigger
- Random selection — some checks are simply random and cannot be predicted or avoided
One Reddit user on r/HMRC reported being told their £3,000 repayment was “going through security checks and should have a response by September 9th” — nearly 3 months after the original request. Another waited until October for a repayment claimed the previous tax year. A third reported: “Mine says it’s been paid. But nothing in the bank. It takes a few days? And does paid mean no security checks?”
The lack of communication is the core problem. HMRC doesn’t proactively tell you when checks are happening, how long they’ll take, or what you can do to speed them up.
The “No Repayment Indicator” — A Silent Block
Here’s something HMRC won’t tell you unless you ask specifically: your account may have a no repayment indicator. This is a flag that silently prevents your repayment from being processed. It doesn’t show up in your online account. You won’t get a letter about it. The repayment just sits there.
The only way to find out if you have one is to call HMRC and ask. If the indicator is there, the agent can remove it on the call — but only if they know what you’re talking about and are willing to act.
In the Reddit thread, one commenter told the original poster: “You have a no repayment indicator in place, you need to call.” The OP had already called twice and been told to wait — the indicator was never mentioned by the HMRC agents on those calls. It was only flagged by a fellow Reddit user who recognised the symptoms.
This is why knowing the specific phrase “no repayment indicator” matters. If you call and just ask “where’s my refund?”, the agent may not check for it. If you ask “is there a no repayment indicator on my account?”, they’re more likely to look.
How to Chase a Delayed HMRC Repayment
Step 1: Check your online account
Log into your HMRC online account and check the status of your repayment. If it says “pending bank repayment,” it’s in the queue but hasn’t been issued. If the balance hasn’t left your account at all, there may be a block.
Also check whether the balance is still showing on your account. If the repayment amount has been deducted from your balance but hasn’t reached your bank, it’s been issued but is in transit (or has been sent to the wrong bank account). If the balance is still sitting there untouched, the repayment hasn’t been processed at all.
Step 2: Call — and keep calling
This is the single most effective action. Multiple Reddit users report the same pattern: the first call gets “just wait,” the second call gets “just wait,” and the third call gets it issued.
The Self Assessment helpline number is 0300 200 3310 (or +44 161 931 3471 from outside the UK). Lines are typically open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Be prepared for long wait times — calling early in the morning or later in the afternoon often reduces your queue time.
When you call, have your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) and National Insurance number ready. Then ask specifically:
- “Is there a no repayment indicator on my account?” — this is the question that most agents won’t proactively check
- “Can you see where my repayment is in the process?” — ask for the specific status, not just “is it pending”
- “Can you remove the security checks and move it to pending?” — one Reddit user reported this exact request worked: the agent removed the checks on the call and the refund arrived the next week
- “What is the expected timeline for resolution?” — get a specific date, not “soon”
- Note the date, time, and name of each agent you speak to — this creates a paper trail for your complaint if needed
One user reported: “I called them and the person was able to remove security checks and move my repayment to ‘pending.’ It was in my bank the next week.”
The original poster in the Reddit thread called three times. The first two calls resulted in “just wait.” On the third call, the agent issued the repayment. They described the process as “opaque and infuriating” — but persistence worked.
Step 3: File a formal complaint
If repeated calls don’t work, file a formal complaint with HMRC. You can do this:
- Online: Through your HMRC online account — look for the complaints option in your Self Assessment section
- By letter: Write to HMRC at HMRC, BX9 1AS (no street address needed for Self Assessment complaints)
- By phone: Tell the agent you want to make a formal complaint
Include in your complaint:
- Your UTR and National Insurance number
- The date you originally claimed the repayment
- The amount you’re owed (e.g., £3,200)
- A log of every call you’ve made (dates, times, agent names, what was said)
- The impact the delay is having on you (financial difficulty, etc.)
HMRC has 8 weeks to respond to your complaint. If they don’t respond within this timeframe, you can escalate immediately.
Step 4: Escalate to the Adjudicator’s Office
If HMRC doesn’t resolve your complaint within 8 weeks (or you’re unhappy with their response), you can take it to the Adjudicator’s Office — an independent body that reviews HMRC complaints. You can also ask your MP to refer your case via the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which often speeds things up.
The Adjudicator’s Office can recommend that HMRC:
- Process your repayment immediately
- Pay you compensation for the delay
- Pay you interest on the overdue amount
Does HMRC Pay Interest on Late Repayments?
Yes. HMRC pays interest on overdue repayments at the official repayment interest rate, which is set by HMRC and tracks the Bank of England base rate. As of 2025, the repayment interest rate is typically the base rate minus 1 percentage point, with a minimum floor of 0.5%.
For example, if you’re owed a £3,000 repayment and it’s 4 months late, and the repayment interest rate is 3.5%:
- £3,000 × 3.5% × (4/12) = £35 in interest
It’s not a fortune, but it’s something — and it’s added automatically. You don’t need to claim it separately. However, it’s worth checking the amount when it arrives to make sure interest has been applied. If it hasn’t, mention it when you call.
The repayment interest rate is different from the late payment interest rate (which is what you pay HMRC when you’re late paying tax — that’s higher, typically base rate plus 2.5 percentage points). HMRC pays you less interest than it charges you, which is a source of frustration for many.
What to Do While You Wait
- Don’t re-submit the repayment request — this can reset the process and put you at the back of the queue
- Keep calling — persistence works, as the Reddit threads show. The pattern is consistent: calls 1–2 get “wait,” call 3 gets action
- Screenshot your account status each time you check, so you have a record of the timeline
- If you have payments on account coming up, the overpaid amount may offset against those instead of being refunded — check whether this is happening. If your July payment on account is £2,500 and you’re owed £3,000, HMRC may apply the £3,000 credit against the £2,500 payment and refund you the remaining £500
- Check your bank details are correct on your HMRC account — if the repayment is being sent to an old account, it will bounce back and restart the process
- Keep a log of every call, letter, and online interaction — dates, times, names, and what was said
Common Scenarios That Trigger Repayment Delays
Understanding why your specific case might be delayed can help you ask the right questions when you call:
You amended your return and then claimed a refund
This is a common trigger. If you filed your return, then realised you’d overpaid (e.g., you forgot to claim the £1,000 trading allowance and amended — see our guide on made a mistake on your Self Assessment), the amendment triggers a recalculation, and the resulting repayment then goes through security checks. Expect this to take longer than a straightforward refund.
It’s your first Self Assessment repayment
If you’ve never received a repayment from HMRC before, the system has no payment history to verify against. This makes security checks more likely and potentially longer.
The repayment is large relative to your income
If you earned £20,000 in self-employment income and are claiming a £5,000 repayment, the ratio is unusual enough to trigger a flag. This doesn’t mean HMRC thinks you’re doing anything wrong — it’s just an automated check.
You changed your bank details
If you’ve updated your bank account details on your HMRC account since your last repayment (or since your last filing), the system needs to verify the new account before sending money to it.
The Bottom Line
If your HMRC repayment is taking too long, the system is opaque and infuriating — but it’s not broken on your end. The fix is almost always calling, asking the right questions (specifically “is there a no repayment indicator on my account?”), and calling again until someone acts. Don’t wait passively for 3 months.
The Reddit thread that prompted this post had a happy ending: after three calls, the repayment was issued. The user’s advice to others in the same situation was simple: “Thanks for the push. Tried again and they have now ‘issued’ it.”
Experiencing other post-filing issues? See our guide on what to do after filing your Self Assessment and how to amend your tax return if you need to correct something. For help with HMRC terminology, see our HMRC jargon buster.