By David Malik-Davies, CheckMyTax.co.uk 

School and college leaders navigate complex systems every day – from budgets and staffing to inspections and accountability frameworks. It’s no surprise that tax rarely makes the top of the to-do list.

Because most education leaders are paid through PAYE, it’s easy to assume everything must already be correct. However, that isn’t always the case.

Changes in role, salary, benefits, pensions, or personal circumstances can all affect the tax you pay. Sometimes, these changes aren’t fully reflected in the information held by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

We’re often asked by members whether it’s worth checking their tax position. The data suggests it absolutely is.
In recent years, 934 ASCL members have had their tax position professionally checked by the experts at CheckMyTax.co.uk. Of those, 59% were found to have paid too much tax, while less than 1% had underpaid. In total, members have recovered £544,576, with an average refund of £410.38 and the largest single refund reaching £8,915.

Here are some of the most common questions we hear from school and college leaders.

I’m paid through PAYE so surely my tax is correct?
It’s a reasonable assumption, but unfortunately it isn’t always true.

PAYE works by using the information available to HMRC to calculate how much tax should be deducted from your salary. If that information isn’t completely up to date, your tax code may not reflect your current circumstances.

This can happen more easily than many people realise - particularly when careers progress quickly, roles change, or additional payments are introduced.

As the experience of ASCL members shows, errors often lead to paying too much tax without realising it.

Why might school leaders face tax issues?
Leadership roles often involve changes that affect tax.

Promotions, moving between schools or trusts, taking on interim roles, or receiving additional allowances can all alter how your income is taxed. Some leaders also take on extra professional work, such as examining, consultancy, or governance roles.

Pension contributions can also interact with tax thresholds in ways that are not always obvious, particularly for members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Charitable giving can also have an impact.

None of this necessarily indicates a problem, but it does mean it’s worth checking that everything has been recorded correctly.

What are the warning signs that my tax may need reviewing?
Sometimes there are clear indicators that a review is worthwhile.

You might notice a change in your tax code that you weren’t expecting, receive a letter from HMRC about an adjustment, or move into a new leadership role with a significant salary increase.

In other cases, you may receive documentation such as a P11D form if you have certain benefits in kind.
Even when nothing appears obviously wrong, it can still be helpful to confirm that everything has been calculated correctly.

What happens if I don’t check?
In many cases, nothing happens at all.

However, tax issues can go unnoticed for several years. This can mean overpaying tax without realising it or discovering later that an underpayment has built up over time.

Taking a proactive approach can help ensure your tax records are accurate, any overpaid tax is reclaimed, and you avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.

How can ASCL members check their tax?
For members with a good understanding of PAYE rules, it’s possible to check historic tax records yourself, although in reality, members with sufficient tax knowledge have often already identified errors.

For those who are time poor or less confident with tax rules, ASCL members can use the specialist review service from Check My Tax, which has helped hundreds of members check whether their tax position is correct.
The new online review service costs £25. It identifies any potential errors in historic tax records and provides completed HMRC forms and clear, easy-to-follow instructions to correct your records and reclaim any overpaid tax.

If the review confirms a refund is due, members can choose to upgrade to a full review and correction service, where the team handles all correspondence with HMRC on their behalf.

Is it worth checking if everything seems fine?
For many members, the biggest benefit is peace of mind.

Knowing that your tax position has been professionally reviewed and is correct removes uncertainty. Where issues are identified, resolving them early can prevent complications later.

The experience of ASCL members suggests it’s often worthwhile. With the majority of checks identifying overpaid tax, a simple review could ensure you’re not paying more than you need to.

Find out more
Check My Tax is the ASCL featured partner for April. 

If you’d like an expert to check your tax position, visit our website here.

A quick check could ensure your historic and current tax records are accurate and there’s a significant likelihood that you could reclaim money that belongs to you.