Posted: 06 / 01 / 2017
The deadline for filing Self Assessment Tax Returns online is nearing!
WHEN IS THE TAX DUE?
HMRC’s unmistakable advertising campaign has been going a while now, giving all taxpayers a reminder that they must submit their return for the 2015/16 tax year and pay any tax due by 31 January 2017. If you miss this deadline then HMRC will charge you penalties and late payment interest.
What are the penalties?
A taxpayer who fails to submit a return on time can expect to receive penalties as follows:
| Length of delay | Penalty for late submission | Penalty for late payment |
| 1 day late | A penalty of £100. This applies even if you have no tax to pay or have paid the tax you owe. |
– |
| 30 days late | – | There will be 5% of tax due |
| 3 months late | You will be charged a daily penalty of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900. This is as well as the fixed penalty above. |
– |
| 6 months late | There will be a penalty of £300 (or 5% of the tax owing if this is greater). |
There will be 5% of amount outstanding due. |
| 12 months late | You will be charged another £300 (or 5% of the tax owing if this is greater). In exceptional circumstances a higher penalty of up to 100% of the tax due is possible. |
There will also be 5% of amount outstanding due. |
How can we help?
Many people find that they need help with their tax returns for a multitude of reasons and it’s not uncommon to come across large numbers of people who have run into trouble with HMRC simply because they either don’t file their returns on time or they make mistakes when filling them in.
If you think you will struggle to pay your tax on time, we strongly recommend you contact HMRC, as they may be able to offer you a payment plan. Please contact us if you would like help contacting HMRC about your tax affairs. Either get in touch with David Evans or Darrell Booth in our tax team or alternatively why not fix a meeting and come over to the Regency Club for an informal chat over a cup of coffee?
TOP 10 EXCUSES HMRC HAVE RECEIVED
Each year HMRC receives a number of unusual excuses from Self Assessment customers who didn’t complete their tax return on time…
Here are the Top 10 funny excuses people have given:
“My tax return was on my yacht…which caught fire”
“A wasp in my car caused me to have an accident and my tax return, which was inside, was destroyed”
“My wife helps me with my tax return, but she had a headache for ten days”
“My dog ate my tax return…and all of the reminders”
“I couldn’t complete my tax return, because my husband left me and took our accountant with him. I am currently trying to find a new accountant”
“My child scribbled all over the tax return, so I wasn’t able to send it back”
“I work for myself, but a colleague borrowed my tax return to photocopy it and lost it”
“My husband told me the deadline was the 31 March”
“My internet connection failed”
“The postman doesn’t deliver to my house”