HMRC pension tax relief

RSB65

For the past couple of years I’ve paid into a work pension (Nest) and 20% tax was added however I’m a higher rate tax payer, I’ve provided HMRC all the info via the government gate way for both tax years for the additional 20% but they marked them as “complete” but not provided any money back.
I’ve written also as I’ve never got through on the phone.
what options do I have? I can guess what would happen if it was the other way round

xylophone

but not provided any money back.

https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/tax-basics/do-i-have-join-pension-scheme/do-you-know-how-tax-relief-your-pension

If you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer and you normally complete a Self Assessment tax return, tell HMRC about your pension contributions – and claim any tax relief – by completing the appropriate section on your tax return. If you do not complete a tax return, you can give the details on form P810 Tax Review – this is not available online and is only available by contacting HMRC. However, you can also give HMRC details of pension contributions online, via your Personal Tax Account.

If you pay tax through PAYE, HMRC can give you any relief through your tax code – meaning any refund will be paid when your wages or pension is paid to you, generally by way of a lower tax deduction than you would otherwise have suffered. The amount of relief given through your tax code will, however, only be an estimate unless you can say exactly how much you will pay into a relief at source pension scheme during the coming year. If not, you may have to obtain a refund directly from HMRC, or if too much estimated tax relief is included in your code, you might have to pay the balance after the end of the tax year.

Has your tax code been adjusted to permit you to earn more at basic rate?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

RSB65 said:

For the past couple of years I’ve paid into a work pension (Nest) and 20% tax was added however I’m a higher rate tax payer, I’ve provided HMRC all the info via the government gate way for both tax years for the additional 20% but they marked them as “complete” but not provided any money back.
I’ve written also as I’ve never got through on the phone.
what options do I have? I can guess what would happen if it was the other way round

Were you definitely paying higher rate tax in the previous tax years?

There isn't actually an "additional 20%", the higher rate tax relief depends on your overall tax position.  Say you paid higher rate tax on £10 and contributed £5,000 (gross) to a RAS pension then the higher rate tax relief would be £2, not £1,000, as you are only avoiding paying 40% tax on £10 of your income (£10 taxed at 20% instead of 40%).

RSB65

I’m well into the 40% bracket by lots more than the pension contributions, until recently I’ve always paid before tax so got relief at my highest level but the Nest pension is paid after tax, I’m sure this works for some but I don’t know why as it’s caused me more problems that anything else. I still think I am owed by HMRC so I see no option but to put in an official complaint 

Cus

Check your tax code, likely that the owed money is being paid back to you month by month in slightly less PAYE tax paid.

Qyburn

When I've been on that position HMRC have refunded over paid tax in cash, then made a tax code change in order to reduce the overpayment next year if pension contributions continue at the same level. I've had tax refunds for the last five or six years, never paid through the tax code - why would anyone choose that over a lump sum?

Your tax calculation should tell you exactly how they've worked it out.