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16 Feb 2012
THE ICAEW is warning accountants to take heed of the taxman's new late-filing penalties that will be introduced this week.
From 17 February HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will reprimand taxpayers that fail to file their 2010/11 returns on time, charging up to £1,600.
Further reading
Last year HMRC estimated £2bn of tax was at stake from late filers who missed the 31 January deadline.
This year that deadline was extended to 3 February after HMRC staff went on strike on deadline day.
Last year, 86% of the 10.3m self-assessment taxpayers filed by the January deadline. However, of the 14% that were late in filing, 11% (about 1.1m people) still hadn't submitted their return six months later.
The new penalties are a £100 fine for missing the deadline (extended to 3 February this year); £10 a day from 1 May for 90 days a maximum of £900; £300 on 1 August or 5% of tax due - whichever is more costly; and the same penalty of £300 or 5% tax on 1 February 2013.
Fines are no longer capped at tax owed so taxpayers could face fines of up to £1,600 even if they owe nothing or are due a refund from HMRC.
Anita Monteith, (pictured) ICAEW's technical manager of SME and personal tax, said: "It is important that late filers do not ignore the penalty notice. HRMC will make contact repeatedly by letter and by phone for the rest of February and March to urge late filers to avoid incurring the daily penalties."
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Visitor comments Add your comment
Terrible
I am sorry I cannot see how HMRC can justify these fines other than an additional way to increase revenue take.
There is so much wrong in imposing fines on people who owe no tax. As an accountant I constantly deal with the general public and this January I has at least 10 people who I phoned and said you need to do a tax return to have the reply, no I have no tax to pay this year. 1 even commented "I have phoned HMRC and they say I do not need to complete a tax return as I have not earned anything in the year" Obviously he did not take a name and yes he did need to complete one.
Its about time that people wrote to their MPs on this one and the Accounting bodies loby HMRC to change the system back. After all taxation is supposed to be fair!
Posted by: Adrian Thompson, 16 Feb 2012 | 11:49