If you have a hash %some_hash and want to return it from anywhere you need to have a hash to put it in. Example:

| hand waving here.

my %reciever = get_stuff();

| more handwaving

sub get_stuff {
    my %hash =();
    # fill hash
    return %hash;
}
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Now if you want to use a a hash reference

my $reciever=get_stuff();

sub get_stuff {
   my %hash = ();
   # yada yada 
  return \%hash;
[download]

Clear as mud?