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11 Jan 2010
Online tax filers are being warned not to treat Sunday 31 January as a day off, as HMRC will still fine those missing deadline day despite it falling on the weekend this year.
"Do not think that just because the deadline falls on a Sunday, HMRC will not be strict in handing out fines to those who file late,” the ICAEW’s technical manager, Anita Monteith, told the Guardian.
"Even if you file in the early hours of Monday 1 February, you will still be liable to a £100 penalty,” she added.
Those filing their tax returns online will have to register with HMRC at least a week before the deadline in order to receive an activation code. The number of online returns is expected to surpass the 5.8m who did so last year, with many more self-employed following job losses.
The deadline for filing paper returns passed in October last year.
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Visitor comments Add your comment
Not enough time
I fail to understand why so many advisors and tax payers leave it to the last minute to submit their tax returns. They have had at least nine months to do this!!
Posted by: John, 11 Jan 2010 | 00:00
Practicalities
The vast majority of accountants take it up to the wire.
There are staff sickness and holidays that come into play. Clients in many cases are struggling to run their businesses and in some cases trying to keep them afloat with reduced overdraft facilities. Life in GB today.
They regard tax returns as the least of their concerns.
Posted by: John A Hollow, 12 Jan 2010 | 00:00
!!!
if clients all brought in their papers COMPLETE and at regular intervals throughout the year then yes that would be achievable. but they dont. some never will! find a practice who doesnt file more in Jan than in the other 11 months added together, i think you'll find it unlikely!
Posted by: Lou, 12 Jan 2010 | 00:00
Tough
There are so many whezz's, get outs and fiddles for the self employed to aviod tax that surely they can pay what little tax is due on time!! The vast majortiy of us in the UK have tax deducted at source we have no opportunity to fiddle our taxes.
All businesses, self employed etc shold have the same tax year end. They should pay monthly on account during the year (say based on the previous year's results) and within six months of the tax year end should provide a return and either pay any diference due there and then. refund would be paid within 2 weeks by HMRC once the return had been agreed.
No problems!!!
Posted by: John, 29 Jan 2010 | 00:00
Unrealistic
John clearly has no experience of being self-employed or in practice; if he thinks the self-employed can avoid tax he is dreaming. How does he think a practice could run if it has to do all its work within six months of the year? Will you pay staff to do nothing for the other six months?
Posted by: Richard B, 01 Feb 2010 | 00:00
SO TOUGH
Of course the self employed can reduce their tax by putting non business costs through their business books. Find me someone running their own business who does not!!
If clients can run a successful business but not keep proper records (or employ someone to do so), then they should pay an appropriate penalty.
Colleagues in the profession are always moaning about January, but what are they doing in the previous nine months, nothing??
Posted by: John, 02 Feb 2010 | 00:00
Penalty?
Actually if the return was submitted on 1 February there would not have been a default for complete day and so there would be no right for HMRC to charge a penalty - that starts at midnight on the first. The enquiry window would be extended of course but the law does not recognise fractions of a day. See Steeden v Carver and the revenue's note in Tax Bulletin - "...the ?default period?for a return delivered on 1 February is the 24 hours ending at midnight on 31January, and the return is not late until after that period has ended. So, following
the Steeden decision, we will accept that the taxpayer had a reasonable excuse throughout the default period, and will not charge the £100 fixed penalty."
Posted by: Paul Soper, 05 Feb 2010 | 00:00
Who is this mindless John
Perhaps |John would like to come and tell my staff that they do nothing for eight months. Clients are human and always leave thing until the last minute even when the accounts are done and you are waiting for a couple of bits of information. He obviously has no knowledge of tax law or life if he thinks the self employed are on some gravy train. Tell that to the clients who are guaranteeing their staff's employment with their house and then losing it after a big bad debt ,claim or other calamity. Usually they have no pension and very little to show for a years hard work and risk. Get real!
Posted by: Neil Mounter, 10 Feb 2010 | 00:00