Press Release: Missed the Self Assessment deadline?

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) is highlighting that some people who have missed the deadline for submitting a Self Assessment (SA) tax return may be able to avoid a fine, if they can show that they should not have been in the SA regime in the first place.

Despite increased fines and publicity, around a million registered SA taxpayers failed to file on time this year – nearly 10 per cent of all SA taxpayers. However the percentage filing on time – 90.4 per cent – was the highest proportion of people to file on time since HMRC was created, which shows that the new penalties for late returns provisions are working in encouraging more taxpayers to file on time.

Tina Riches, Director, Technical, at the CIOT, said:

“If you have received a 2010/11 Self Assessment tax return but should not be in self assessment because you no longer meet the criteria, then even if the tax return deadline has been missed you can ask HMRC to take you out of SA and cancel any late return penalty.

“The CIOT and other professional bodies have been asking HMRC to do this for some time, and we are pleased that HMRC have now acted on this.”

The criteria for SA are set out below².

Notes to Editors

1. HMRC’s briefing note on SA penalties states:

   ‘Treating people fairly

   Once the 31 January deadline has passed and penalties begin to apply, we will use our utmost discretion to ensure that we are even-handed and treat people with sensitivity. We will be as supportive and flexible as the legislation allows us. We will:

• be sympathetic in exercising our discretion where people are prevented by circumstances outside their control from filing on time. In such cases, we will cancel the penalty, but the taxpayer must still file as soon as possible.
• take people out of Self Assessment if they shouldn’t be in and they contact us. If they can demonstrate that they do not need to be in Self Assessment, they will no longer need to submit a return and we will cancel any penalty they have incurred.

  We know that there are some people in Self Assessment who should not be. The problem is that until they contact us, either by submitting a return or by calling us, we don’t know whether they should be or not. So, after the January deadline, in both our direct letters and in our advertising, we will be inviting them to call us to give us some basic information that will help us to assess whether they should be in Self Assessment. If they shouldn’t, we will take them out and cancel any penalty they have incurred.

  Anyone who thinks they should not be in Self Assessment can call us after the January deadline has passed on 0845 900 0444. Our staff will help them.’

2. You need to submit a Self-Assessment return if:

• You are self-employed (including being a member of a partnership)
  
• You are a company director, minister of religion, Lloyd's name or member
• You earn income above a certain level from savings, investment or property
  
• You're 65 and receive a reduced age-related allowance
  
• You have any foreign income that's liable to UK tax
  
• Your annual income is £100,000 or more
  
• You need to claim certain expenses or reliefs
  
• You owe tax and HMRC can't collect it through your tax code, or you prefer to pay direct
  
• You have Capital Gains Tax to pay
  
• You've lived or worked abroad or aren't domiciled in the UK
  
• You're a trustee

NB. This list is a summary of HMRC’s note available in full at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/need-tax-return.htm

Technical Team

3 February 2012