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On-time Self Assessment returns breaks the record once again

Press release -

On-time Self Assessment returns breaks the record once again

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has once again surpassed its record of completed tax returns with a huge 10.7 million customers submitting theirs before the 31 January deadline.

Proving increasingly popular with its handy tips and helpful advice, the department’s online service was used by 9.9 million customers –meaning more than 92.5% of total returns were completed online.

There were 758,707 people who completed their return on the last day before the deadline and the most popular hour for customers to hit submit was from 4pm to 5pm on 31 January with 60,596 returns received (1010 per minute, 17 per second).

Thousands of customers avoided any penalties at the last minute as 30,348 customers completed their returns from 11pm to 11:59pm yesterday.

HMRC handled 195,260 calls over the course of the day but waiting times were kept at just three minutes and six seconds, meaning that hundreds of thousands of customers got the extra support they needed to meet the deadline.

Angela MacDonald, Director General for Customer Services, thanked customers for meeting the deadline and said:

“It’s really fantastic to see that each year, more and more Self Assessment customers are getting ahead of the game and submitting their tax return before the 31 January deadline. But we’re not complacent, we want the number missing the deadline to be zero, and we’ll continue to adapt the process to make it easier and simpler for all our customers until every return is in on time and without avoidable errors.

“If you’re one of the small number that missed the deadline, please submit your return now to avoid further penalties. We really don’t want penalties, we just want tax returns.”

For anyone who still has not submitted their return, help and advice is available on GOV.UK or from the Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310 (open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4pm on Saturday).

Notes for Editors

1. Self Assessment facts summary:

  • 11,433,349 SA returns due
  • 10,687,761 returns received by midnight on 31 January (93.5 % of total issued)
  • Around 745,588 SA returns still outstanding
  • 9,916,430 returns filed online (92.8%)
  • 771,331 returns filed on paper (7.22 %)
  • More than 4,852,744 returns received online in January 2018 (44.8 % of total received)
  • 1,290,948 returns received on 30 and 31 January (26.6 % of total returns received in January)
  • Busiest hour: 4pm to 5pm on 31 January – 60,596 returns received (1010 per minute; 17 per second)
  • Payments transactions handled on 31 January – 389,849

2. 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 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater; and
  • after 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater.

3. There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5% of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months.

4. An audio clip of Angela McDonald’s statement is also available upon request.

5. Follow HMRC Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

6. HMRC's Flickr channel:www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk

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Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the UK’s tax authority.

HMRC is responsible for making sure that the money is available to fund the UK’s public services and for helping families and individuals with targeted financial support.

Contacts

HMRC Press Office

HMRC Press Office

Press contact 03000 585 018

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the UK’s tax authority

HMRC is responsible for making sure that the money is available to fund the UK’s public services and for helping families and individuals with targeted financial support.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
100 Parliament St
SW1A 2BQ London