Claim your tax rebate - How it works with RIFT Refunds

How does a UK tax rebate work? With RIFT, the answer is quickly, easily and without stress or fuss. There are lots of reasons why you might be owed a tax rebate. Perhaps you travel for work, for instance, or have been shelling out for essential costs from your own pocket. You might have changed jobs or stopped working during the tax year—or even gone self-employed. Whenever you’ve ended up paying too much to HMRC, you can claim back what you’re due. See here for 9 reasons why you might be owed a tax refund.

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How do tax rebates work?

Tax rebates don’t have to be complicated. Sure, HMRC might ask you to jump through a few hoops, but that’s why we’re here. At RIFT, we make claiming your money back simple and stress-free. Think of us as your expert tax teammates, here to do the heavy lifting while you sit back and relax.

Meet the RIFT Refunds team

As the UK’s leading tax refund experts, we pride ourselves on putting together the very best teams to work on your refund claims. We start by working out exactly what you’re owed, then stay with you all the way through the process of making your claim and getting your cash back. All along the way, our tax refund specialists are there for you, answering questions and solving problems. We’ll go toe-to-toe with the taxman until your claim’s paid in full, and our unique RIFT Guarantee protects both you and your money.

Meet the Team

Here's how claiming a tax rebate works with RIFT

Step 1: Check if you’re eligible

If you’re footing the bill for work-related essentials and you’re in the MOD, Construction, Offshore, or Security industries, chances are you’re owed a tax rebate.

Here’s what you could claim for:

Mileage for work travel in your own vehicle (if your employer doesn’t fully reimburse you).
Public transport costs like train tickets, bus tickets or air fare.
Food and accommodation while you’re working away from home.
Uniform and tools upkeep—think repair, replacement, or laundry expenses.
Professional fees like courses, licenses, or subscriptions.
Training courses you’ve paid for yourself to stay sharp on the job.

Sound like you? Use our tax rebate calculator to get an estimate, or head to our eligibility form to see if you can claim.

Tax Rebates Calculator

Step 2: You’re eligible? Great! Let’s gather your details

HMRC will expect you to back up every part of your tax refund claim with proof of what you're owed, so we'll need a few documents to get your claim underway. Don't worry if you can't find every last scrap of paperwork. Our expert teams will track down any tricky details about your workplaces or employers - even if they no longer exist:

Wage slips or income statements

Proof of ID (for new customers)

Assignment orders (Armed Forces members only)

P60s and P45s

MOT certificates

Receipts for expenses

Your contract of employment (if you’re new or have changed jobs)

Last thing! We’ll also ask you to sign a 64-8 form. It’s not as scary as it sounds—it just lets us deal directly with HMRC on your behalf. Translation: no more taxman headaches for you.

What is a 64-8 form?

Step 3: We build your claim

This is where the magic happens. Behind the scenes, our expert team flex their tax-refund mastery. We have specialists to cover everything from Construction and Offshore to the Armed Forces and Security industry.

From claim prep to compliance checks, we handle the lot.
We’ll send you a detailed breakdown of your refund for approval before submitting it to HMRC.

You'll get the best help in the business from our team of certified accountants, specialising in tax refunds offering expert knowledge to maximise your claim. As well as this, you'll benefit from unlimited access and support at no extra charge. It's all part of the service.

With over 500,000 tax refunds successfully processed already, you'll have year-round support and advice from our specialists whenever you need it.

It usually takes 8–12 weeks for HMRC to process everything but you can avail of our Rapid Refund service if you want your refund quicker. Either way you can track your refund anytime with the RIFT app.

Meet the RIFT team

Step 4: You get paid

When HMRC sends us your money, we’ll deduct our fee and transfer the rest straight into your bank account. There's no upfront cost to you. You can start your refund claim with zero financial commitment, giving you confidence that you won't pay until you receive your refund. That's right, you only pay a fixed fee if your refund is successfully issued—no hidden costs or nasty surprises.

As part of our service, you'll also be covered by our unique RIFT Guarantee, meaning you'll never have to worry about the taxman reclaiming any of your tax rebate. So long as you give us full, accurate information for your claim, if HMRC disagrees with your pay-out and demands some back, we'll pay it from our pocket instead of yours. It won't cost you a penny!

When your refund is on its way, we’ll give you a heads-up by dropping you a text or call to let you know.

Prices

Step 5: Refer & earn—Get £50

Know someone else who could claim a tax rebate? Refer them, and we’ll give you £50 for every friend who makes a successful claim. No limits, no strings—just a thank-you for spreading the word.

Refer a Friend

Step 6: Let’s Do This Again Next Year

Still travelling for work? You can claim again next tax year—and every year after that! We’ll remind you when it’s time, so you don’t miss out.

Your Tax Refund Journey Made Simple

Claiming your money back shouldn’t be a hassle. With RIFT, it’s as easy as standing back while we do the heavy lifting—and you reap the rewards. Ready to get started?

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