Should I complete a tax return?

[Chitarra]

I used to work freelance so I had to complete a tax return. Now I've returned to employment, but for the first few years after starting I still received a message from HMRC requiring me to complete a tax return (I understand this is common during a transition period). This year, for the first year, I haven't received this message.

While it's nice not to have to complete one, I'm worried that I am missing out. Since returning to employment my tax return always showed that I had overpaid tax and was due a fairly significant rebate every year (I'm not sure why - now I've stopped freelancing my tax position is very simple). I don't want to lose this by not completing a tax return!

Can I trust that my tax has been done correctly and there would be no rebate this time? Or should I fill out a tax return just to be sure?

Well you can check your tax anyway without doing a tax return, but tbh doing one online in a year where all your income is PAYE is so quick and easy, you could just do it anyway.

it costs nothing to do and they will send you a letter when they want you to go away

HMRC already know what your employment income is, it is reported to them by your employer. If you have overpaid tax, you will still get a refund.

Unless you have any other income or deductibles, there is no point doing a return.

BUT
If they issue one (or a letter notifying one) you HAVE to do it

Thanks all - that is helpful.

www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return

HMRC already know what your employment income is, it is reported to them by your employer. If you have overpaid tax, you will still get a refund.

In a perfect world, then yes. But the World, and in particular, HMRC systems are not perfect. Mistakes do happen (far too often!). It's a very risky strategy to just assume HMRC will notice any irregularities. Far better to at least do the sums yourself. You can "draft" your tax return online without ever submitting it and the online system will provide you with a calculation, so the OP has nothing to lose by drafting the return and just not submitting it if it all looks OK.

Have you checked that your employer is using the correct tax code? They could be using the wrong one.

I used to be self-employed and did a tax return every year, but have been solely an employee for over two years now. I rang them up and asked whether I still needed to file a tax return and they said no. I got a letter a couple of weeks later to confirm.

So give them a call and speak to somebody. Have all your last few years of paperwork to hand, and they will go through it with you.