Many happy returns at Christmas

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed that 1,566 people found time during the Christmas Day festivities to send an online tax return.

The figure represents a 1 per cent increase on the 1,548 people who filed online on Christmas Day 2012.

The busiest filing hour on Christmas Day was just before lunch, from midday to 1pm, when 144 people hit the send button on their completed return.

This followed 17,000 individuals who booted up their computers, got their financial information together and sent an online tax return on Christmas Eve. This was up 19 per cent on the 14,330 returns received on 24 December 2012.

The Boxing Day holiday saw another 4,493 people send their tax return over the internet – a 4 per cent fall from the 4,685 received last year.

In total, 23,059 online returns were received over the three-day period – up 12 per cent on the 2012 total of 20,563.

The deadline for sending 2012/13 tax returns to HMRC, and paying any tax owed, is 31 January 2014. However, taxpayers who owe less than £3,000, and want HMRC to collect the tax they owe through next year’s tax code, need to submit an online return by midnight on 30 December.

For general help and advice on completing a return, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa or call the Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310 (open 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays).

Notes for editors

1.  Around 10.9 million people are expected to fill out a Self Assessment return for the 2012/13 tax year.

2.  The penalties for late Self Assessment 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 3 months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900;
• after 6 months, a further penalty of 5 per cent of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater; and
• after 12 months, another 5 per cent or £300 charge, whichever is greater.

3.  There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5 per cent of the tax unpaid at: 30 days; 6 months; and 12 months.

4.  Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk

5,  Images are available on HMRC’s flickr site www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk