Stop Donating Your Salary. Start Reclaiming Your Relief.

Got questions about your missing 20%? We have the scout’s guide to navigating the UK Tax Authority, backdating claims, and securing your windfall.

Why hasn't my pension company already claimed this for me?

Most UK pensions use a system called "Relief at Source." By law, your provider can only claim the basic rate of 20% because they don’t know your total annual income or your specific tax bracket. If you are a 40% or 45% taxpayer, the UK Tax Authority expects you to tell them about your contributions to get the remaining 20% or 25% back. They won’t send it to you automatically.

Is this 100% legal? It sounds too good to be true.

It is your statutory right. HMRC actually expects higher-rate taxpayers to claim this relief. It’s not a "loophole"; it’s a manual step in the UK tax system designed to ensure you only pay the tax you legally owe.

I earn £60,000. Exactly how much am I missing out on?

For every £80 you pay into your pension, your provider adds £20 (the basic relief). However, because you are in the 40% bracket, you are owed another £20. If you contribute £5,000 a year, you are leaving £1,250 on the table annually.

Can I really backdate my claim for 4 years?

Yes. Under current 2026 rules, you can claim for the current tax year plus the previous four. If you’ve been a higher-rate taxpayer since 2022 and never claimed, you could be looking at a multi-thousand-pound lump sum refund.

Does this apply if my employer already contributes?

It applies to your personal contributions (the money taken from your take-home pay or any independent pension contribution you personally make). It does not apply to the "Employer" portion of the contribution.

How long does the refund take to arrive?

Once the UK Tax Authority processes the claim, refunds are usually issued via a cheque in the post or a direct bank transfer within 8 to 12 weeks. In some cases, they may simply adjust your tax code so you pay less tax in your monthly salary going forward.

How do I know if my pension is "Relief at Source"?

Most SIPPs (like Vanguard, Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell) and many workplace providers (like NEST or The People's Pension) use this method. If your pension contribution is taken after tax is shown on your payslip, you are likely eligible.

Is this kit better than using an accountant?

An accountant will typically charge you every single year to file this. Our kit is a one-off purchase that teaches you the "Scout Method." You can use the templates and tools year after year, keeping 100% of your refund for yourself.