2022–23 tax refunds close on 5 April 2027

You can only claim tax back for the last four tax years. The oldest one you can still claim, 2022–23, runs out this April.

Last checked against HMRC and MOD guidance on 13 November 2026.

HMRC lets you claim tax relief for the current tax year and the four tax years before it.^[1] For postal claims, it says you must claim within 4 years of the end of the tax year you're claiming for.^[2]

The 2022–23 tax year ended on 5 April 2023, so 5 April 2027 is the last day to claim for it. After that, any refund you're owed for that year is gone for good.

Every tax year you can claim for now

Each year closes four years after it ends, so a year drops off every April. If you claim for all of them at once, you get everything you're still entitled to.

Who should check 2022–23

It's worth checking if, between April 2022 and April 2023, you:

• did Phase 2 training or a course away from your permanent unit
• went on detachment or other duty at a temporary place of work
• drove your own car to any of these
• have since left the Forces. You can still claim for years you served.

Tax relief for travel is only available for journeys to a temporary workplace, not your normal commute to a permanent one.^[3] A workplace you were expected to attend for more than 24 months usually counts as permanent.^[3] Mileage for 2022–23 is worked out at 45p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles.^[1]

Don't leave it until April

A claim needs a few things to come together: your P60s, a list of your bases and journeys, and a signed authority so we can deal with HMRC for you. We aim to submit within 14 days of your signed instruction, but getting documents together can take longer.

What you'll need

• Your P60 for 2022–23 and the years after. Here's where to find them.
• The bases, courses and detachments you went to, with rough dates
• A record of your journeys if you have one. HMRC asks for the reason and start and end postcodes of each journey with mileage claims.^[2]

Questions