850,000 penalties for late-filed tax returns will be issued over the next fortnight, 550,000 fewer than the same time last year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced.
Although the deadline for receiving online returns was 31
January, this year HMRC is not issuing penalties to people who filed on 1 or 2
February, following strike action at HMRC’s call centres on 31 January.
This year, for the first time, anyone filing after the
self-assessment deadline was liable for a £100 penalty, irrespective of whether
tax is owed.
There is still uncertainty about the overall amount HMRC
will collect, said Donald Drysdale, assistant director of tax at ICAS, as “the
rules have changed.”
In a new development, anyone who receives a penalty, but who
believes they don’t need to be in Self Assessment, can call the department on
0845 900 0444. If HMRC agrees, the return and the penalty will be cancelled.
“We want the returns,
not the penalties. So anyone who still hasn’t sent theirs should do so as soon
as possible,” said HMRC’s Stephen Banyard.
“People who receive a penalty notice should act now to avoid
further penalties. They should send in their return, appeal if they think they
have a reasonable excuse, or contact us if they think they shouldn’t have been
in Self Assessment.”
HMRC urged anyone who still hasn’t sent their return to HMRC
to do so now or risk further penalties.
Anyone whose return is more than three months late will be
charged an additional £10 penalty for each day it remains outstanding, up to a
maximum of 90 days.
After six months, a further penalty of five per cent of the
tax due or £300, whichever is greater; and after 12 months, another five per
cent or £300 charge, whichever is greater.
There are also additional new penalties for paying late of
5% of the tax unpaid at: 30 days; 6 months; and 12 months.
People who get a late-filing penalty can appeal against it
if they think they have a reasonable excuse for not sending back their tax
return in time, or they think a penalty should not have been issued for any
other reason. Appeals should be made in writing by 31 March.