16/01/2007

Deadline for tax returns approaches

The government has issued a reminder that there are only two weeks left for people to file their self assessment tax return.

The tax returns have to be filled in before January 31 or a £100 penalty will be issued.

More than 9 million self assessment tax returns have been issued this year, but last year around a million taxpayers were late filing their return.

Self assessment applies to the self-employed, company directors, those with business partners, higher-rate taxpayers or people who otherwise have complicated tax affairs.

HM Revenue & Customs is encouraging people to file their self assessment tax returns and pay any money they owe before midnight on January 31 to avoid paying penalties and interest charges.

Those who miss the deadline will not only receive an automatic £100 penalty for late filing and you will be charged interest on any money paid late.

Late payers also face a surcharge of 5% on any amounts still outstanding after 28 days, with persistent non-filers facing daily penalties of up to £60 per day.

Mike Shipp, Director of PAYE SA & NIC at HM Revenue & Customs, said: "Don't a pay a penalty - get your return in now and beat the deadline. If you are registered for 'Self Assessment Online' you can file your return easily and securely up until midnight on January 31 www.hmrc.gov.uk. And if you're sending in a paper return, please allow plenty of time for it to reach us."

Anyone who needs help should visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/index.htm or contact the helpline on: 0845 900 0444.

(KMcA)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

30 June 2010
Accountant Gets Eight Years To Count Cost
A London accountant has been jailed for eight years for stealing £11m in income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) by manipulating both his clients' and his own tax returns.
01 February 2011
Millions File Tax Returns Online
Record numbers of people sent their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online this year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed today. A total of 6,907,410 people filed online by the 31 January deadline - around 78% of all returns submitted. This represents an increase of just over 7% on the 2010 total, when around 6.
02 February 2010
Over Six Million File Tax Online
A record number of taxpayers filed their Self Assessment tax returns online this year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed today. A total of 6,429,899 people filed online by the 31 January deadline – three quarters of all returns submitted. This represents an increase of nearly 12% on the 2009 total, when around 5.
31 January 2006
Self assessment tax deadline day
Midnight tonight marks the deadline for self assessment taxpayers to file their returns, and avoid a £100 penalty for missing the 31 January deadline. Almost 10 million self assessment tax returns were issued in 2004/05 - but last year almost a million taxpayers were late filing their returns.
30 November 2010
Corporation Tax Reform To Create 'Competition'
The Government has published details of its Corporate Tax Reform programme consisting of a series of essential reforms designed to improve the UK's tax competitiveness. Measures include the introduction of new Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules and a commitment to introduce a Patent Box.