HMRC repays National Insurance refund to Oxfordshire reader after delay and apology
A reader from Oxfordshire, identified as JM, recently reported that they had overpaid National Insurance contributions due to holding two NHS roles and was owed a refund of £2,200.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) initially informed JM that the refund could take up to 33 weeks to be processed, reflecting a slowdown in the NI refund system since the Covid pandemic and an ongoing backlog.
In May 2025, HMRC faced criticism for processing some tax and National Insurance refunds in over four months. The department is currently recruiting hundreds of extra staff to help reduce these delays.
Following contact from The Guardian's consumer team, JM's refund of £2,200 was paid within seven days and HMRC issued a formal apology over the phone.
JM stated they do not wish to lend the government money without interest during such delays.
This article was published on 9 December 2025.
