Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Self-assessment deadline extended by two days
Self-assessment tax returns will not incur a £100 penalty if they miss the January 31 deadline due to planned strikes at HMRC call-centres at the end of the month.
Interest on tax owed will also not be charged until February 2, effectively postponing the deadline for returns to this date.
As many as 7,000 HMRC staff are planning to walk out at its four call centres on 31 January, the deadline for people to file their annual self assessment tax returns.
Stephen Banyard, HMRC acting director general for personal tax, said: “We have always been very clear that we want the returns – not the penalties. For that reason, we do not want anyone who cannot get through for help and advice on 31 January to be disadvantaged in any way.”
Public sector union, the PCS, is planning walk-outs at call centres to protest against contracts being given to private companies.
More than two million people have still to file their returns and around 600,000 were expected to file their returns on January 31.
From this year late returns will attract a £100 penalty even in cases were tax is not owed.
See also:
- HMRC may end up in the dock following whistleblower’s allegations over tax deals
- Online filing of tax self-assessment up 10% on last year
- Government signs off tax avoidance scheme for top civil servant just one month after pledging a ‘tougher approach’
