Guides › Public Services › Overtaxed on a Pension Withdrawal? Claim It Back
Overtaxed on a Pension Withdrawal? Claim It Back
If you have flexibly accessed all of your pension, or had a serious ill-health lump sum, and paid too much tax, you can reclaim it using form P53Z, online or by post. Use form P53 instead if you took a small pension or trivial commutation lump sum. You need parts 2 and 3 of any P45s. Refunds are paid by payable order to an account in your name or a nominee's.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Reclaiming the Tax
Which Form
P53Z if you flexibly accessed all of your pension or had a serious ill-health lump sum. P53 if you took all your pension as cash through trivial commutation or a small pension lump sum. source
How to Claim
Claim online through GOV.UK, or print and post the form to HMRC. Check you have parts 2 and 3 of all P45s, as HMRC cannot process the claim without them. You can use estimated figures, which HMRC checks at the end of the tax year. source
How You Are Paid
Refunds are sent as a payable order and can only be paid into an account in your name or your nominee's. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- P45Get parts 2 and 3 firstHMRC cannot process the claim without them
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check which form applies.
Step 2 of 5
Get parts 2 and 3 of your P45 from the pension provider.
Step 3 of 5
Claim online or by post.
Step 4 of 5
Keep your pension withdrawal paperwork.
Step 5 of 5
Get free help from Tax Help for Older People.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
HMRC
Contact HMRC through your personal tax account, the HMRC app or the phone and post details on GOV.UK.
Free Tax Help
TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People give free advice if your income is low.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Pension Wise gives free, impartial guidance before you take money from a pension.
Scotland has its own Income Tax rates and bands. The rules on returns, penalties and HMRC complaints apply across the UK.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-tax-refund-when-youve-flexibly-accessed-all-of-your-pension-p53z Checked 15 October 2026