HMRC records 1,773 self-assessment tax returns on Christmas Day

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed 1,773 online self-assessment tax returns were submitted on Christmas Day – a 13 per cent rise on last year’s total of 1,566.

The busiest time for online returns during 25^th December was between midday and 1pm, with 148 festive returns submitted electronically during this time window.

Christmas Eve was a much more popular day for self-assessment returns online with 17,644 online returns successfully submitted; four per cent up on the 17,000 received on 24^th December 2013.

Another 4,811 online returns ticked all the boxes on Boxing Day; a seven per cent increase on the 4,493 received last year.
On the whole, 24,228 tax returns were submitted over the three-day festive season – a five per cent increase on the 2013 total of 23,059.

Ruth Owen, director general of personal tax, HMRC, said: “You can file your online return at any time of the day or night – even Christmas Day, if it suits you.

“But don’t leave it too late. Give yourself plenty of time to resolve any problems and if you need to call us, do it now, as our phone lines get much busier as the 31 January deadline approaches.”

The deadline for submitting 2013/14 self-assessment tax returns to HMRC is 31^st January 2015.

All tax returns outstanding for 2013/14 must now be submitted online as the paper-filing deadline of 31^st October 2014 has now passed.

To send an online tax return, you must be registered for HMRC Online Services. This involves HMRC sending you an Activation Code in the post and you will need to allow 10 days for it to arrive.

The penalties for late tax returns are:

• An initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time;

• After three months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900;

• 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.

Date published 2 Jan 2015 | Last updated 2 Jan 2015