Tax relief on pension contributions is one of the biggest perks of saving for retirement in the UK. But when you’re relying on HMRC to process your claim, how long should you expect to wait—and what happens when things go quiet? A recent case sheds light on these questions as HMRC responded to a taxpayer’s query about their pension tax relief claim. Let’s break it down in plain English so you know where you stand.
Table of Contents
Relief
Pension tax relief means the government gives you back some of the tax you’ve already paid—either by boosting your pension contributions directly or by reducing your tax bill. It’s a pretty sweet deal. In fact, you can get tax relief on pension contributions up to 100% of your annual earnings.
Now, how you get this relief depends on your pension setup. There are two main ways:
- Net Pay Arrangement – Your employer takes pension contributions out of your salary before income tax is applied. This way, you get the tax relief automatically—no action needed.
- Relief at Source – Your pension provider claims 20% tax relief from the government and adds it to your pension pot. This method also applies automatically but only at the basic rate of tax.
Claims
But what if you pay more than 20% in income tax? Or what if your pension scheme doesn’t handle tax relief on its own? In those cases, you need to claim it yourself.
Here’s when you’ll have to step in and make a claim:
- You’re a higher-rate taxpayer (40% or 45%)
- Your pension provider has already claimed 20%, and you’re owed more
- Your scheme doesn’t apply tax relief automatically
- Someone else (like a spouse or partner) has made a contribution into your pension
In these situations, the extra relief isn’t just handed over—you need to ask for it, either through your Self Assessment tax return or by contacting HMRC directly.
Delays
That’s exactly what happened to one taxpayer who contacted HMRC after waiting months for an update on their claim. They had submitted a request on November 28, but hadn’t received any real progress or a clear decision.
They reached out to HMRC and were told to check their personal tax account online. HMRC also mentioned a possible response date: March 14, 2026—yes, that’s over a year away. And no, that’s not a typo.
This timeline comes from HMRC’s official response times tool, which shows that even simple claims might take several months or more depending on how busy they are.
Status
Even more confusing? The taxpayer said their account now showed the claim as “complete”, but they hadn’t received a tax calculation, approval, or even a rejection message. It was like getting to the end of a film and not knowing what actually happened.
They asked: “Does complete mean approved? If so, why no confirmation?” Fair question, right?
HMRC replied that, if the status is complete, a notification letter should arrive within two weeks. But they also added a frustrating note: their social media team can’t access individual cases—so they couldn’t confirm whether the claim had actually been accepted or not.
Contact
So, what can you do if you’re in a similar situation?
- First, log into your personal tax account and check the status of your claim.
- If it says “complete,” wait a couple of weeks for a follow-up letter.
- Still nothing? You’ll need to contact HMRC directly through their phone lines or web forms.
- And if you’re not on Self Assessment and only pay tax through PAYE, you might not get detailed updates like Self Assessment users do—so it’s even more important to keep checking your account.
Here’s a quick look at the difference between the two types of tax relief setups:
| Pension Setup | Gets Tax Relief Automatically? | Additional Claim Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Net Pay Arrangement | Yes | No |
| Relief at Source | Yes (20% only) | Yes (if higher rate) |
| Manual Contributions | No | Yes |
Patience
Waiting for HMRC to process something can feel like watching paint dry, but the key is persistence. If you’ve submitted a valid claim and your pension contributions qualify for tax relief, it’s usually just a matter of time. Just make sure you don’t let it fall off your radar—HMRC won’t chase you if something’s missing.
In the meantime, keep checking your personal tax account, look for official letters, and if in doubt, pick up the phone. It’s your money—you deserve clarity.
FAQs
Who gets automatic pension tax relief?
People in net pay or relief-at-source schemes get it automatically.
Do I need to claim higher-rate relief?
Yes, if you pay above 20% income tax, you must claim extra relief.
How long does HMRC take to respond?
It can take several months—some cases show dates into 2026.
What does ‘complete’ mean in HMRC account?
It usually means done, but wait for a confirmation letter.
Can HMRC’s social team check my claim?
No, they can’t access individual tax records—contact HMRC directly.
