HMRC has disclosed 10 legitimate reasons that could save you from a £100 fine for missing the self-assessment deadline. A reasonable excuse is described as an unexpected event that stopped you from meeting a tax obligation, despite making reasonable efforts to do so.
HMRC‘s examples include the death of a partner or close relative shortly before the tax return or payment deadline, an unforeseen hospital stay that prevented you from handling your tax affairs, and severe or life-threatening illnesses.
Technical issues such as computer or software failure while preparing your online return, or service disruptions with HMRC‘s online services, are also deemed valid excuses.
Other acceptable reasons encompass a fire, flood or theft that hindered you from completing your tax return, unpredictable postal delays, delays due to a disability or mental illness, and misunderstanding or lack of awareness about your legal obligation.
If you depended on someone else to submit your return and they failed to do so, this is also considered a valid excuse. According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), approximately 1.1 million people missed the deadline for filing their annual tax returns.
Those who failed to meet the self-assessment deadline on Friday are now subject to a minimum fine of £100, as declared by the tax authority, unless they can provide a valid reason for their tardiness.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed that over 11.5 million individuals successfully completed the self-assessment process, with more than 31,000 finalising their submissions in the last hour before the deadline, according to Birmingham Live, reports Yorkshire Live.
Self-employed people and those with multiple income streams are required to submit a tax return each year. This comes after recent refutations by HMRC of claims that it maintains a “deliberately poor” telephone service to push taxpayers towards online assistance.
Jim Harra, Chief Executive of HMRC, dismissed the allegations about its customer service made by a committee of MPs as “completely baseless”.
