# Get HMRC to pay YOU! One phone call could get you a refund, says RACHEL RICKARD STRAUS

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/get-hmrc-to-pay-you-one-phone-call-could-get-you-a-refund-says-rachel-rickard-straus/
- Published: 2026-10-28T10:09:39+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T10:38:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/money/tax/article-16243445/Get-HMRC-pay-YOU-Launch-Budget-fightback-one-phone-call-you-refund-says-RACHEL-RICKARD-STRAUS.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, World

## Key points

- Unclaimed tax relief could mean a refund from HMRC.
- Higher-rate taxpayers may claim extra relief on Gift Aid donations.
- Pension contributions may also qualify for additional tax relief.

## Summary

A personal finance column says millions of people may be owed tax refunds they have not claimed, and argues that contacting HMRC can be worthwhile. The writer says a phone call took less than ten minutes of waiting and resulted in a cheque for several hundred pounds, showing how unclaimed relief can add up.

Her refund covered Gift Aid donations made while paying higher-rate tax. Charities can claim basic-rate relief, but higher- and additional-rate taxpayers must claim the extra themselves, either through Self Assessment or by contacting HMRC; claims can cover the past four years. The article also points to pension tax relief as another area where some people may need to claim what they are owed, depending on their pension scheme.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.