Self Assessment Deadline

Gaz83

Wasn't sure where to put this!

This is my first time doing a self-assessment tax return. I'm a teacher and do some private tuition at the weekends.

I was always planning on doing it online, as all my records are stored on computer anyway. I got a reminder letter at the end of December advising that I needed to sign up for a Government Gateway ID and that it can take up to 7 working days.

I registered for it at the start of January but haven't heard anything back. Obviously we're more than 7 working days now, but the deadline is looming.

If the 31st January passes and I haven't received this information, am I still liable for the automatic £100 penalty?

Cheers in advance.

chrismac1

Have you been sent a Unique Taxpayer Reference number yet? If yes, then file something - any old drivel will do - this week. You then have until 31 Jan 16 to file an amended return.

If you have no UTR by definition you cannot submit an SA return. When you get your SA number, you should have 3 months to submit your return without a penalty, from the date the number is issued.

TheCyclingProgrammer

chrismac1 wrote: »

Have you been sent a Unique Taxpayer Reference number yet? If yes, then file something - any old drivel will do - this week. You then have until 31 Jan 16 to file an amended return.

Assuming for a moment OP does have a UTR, is registered for self assessment and has received a notice to file a tax return - but just hasn't registered for filing it online - isn't the problem that without the Government Gateway ID/password thing they send in the post, that he can't login and activate the self-assessment service?

If this is the case, then unfortunately OP is at the mercy of the Royal Mail and does face a £100 penalty.

Gaz83

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Assuming for a moment OP does have a UTR, is registered for self assessment and has received a notice to file a tax return - but just hasn't registered for filing it online - isn't the problem that without the Government Gateway ID/password thing they send in the post, that he can't login and activate the self-assessment service?

If this is the case, then unfortunately OP is at the mercy of the Royal Mail and does face a £100 penalty.

Thanks for this. This is what I thought. Although, I'm not too happy about potentially being hit with a charge despite registering well in advance. I have all the figures in front of me, just waiting on the registration details so I can enter them.

I'll try giving them a phone, although the times I'm able to phone them tend to be when they're super busy.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Gaz83 wrote: »

Although, I'm not too happy about potentially being hit with a charge despite registering well in advance.

To be fair, you haven't done it well in advance, you've left it to the last minute. You've had since last April to register and file your tax return. It goes without saying that January is HMRCs busiest time of the year.

chrismac1

See other posts on this topic. Most of us live in the 21st century when a few days is generally enough time to do most things like set up bank accounts, switch telcom suppliers, sign up and buy goods on the internet.

This mindset is very very dangerous when it comes to tax. HMRC are very much in the 19th century mindset. If they answer the phone within 10 minutes that counts as a success in management reports. If they answer a letter within 5 weeks that counts as success.

So whilst 5 million out of 11 million self-assessment tax payers had not submitted their 13-14 return by 31 December 14, whilst many of them no doubt thought a month was more than enough time many of them will end up with a £100 penalty and no propsect of winning an appeal.

quietriot

chrismac1 wrote: »

Have you been sent a Unique Taxpayer Reference number yet? If yes, then file something - any old drivel will do - this week. You then have until 31 Jan 16 to file an amended return.

This is incredibly bad advice.

Gaz83

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

To be fair, you haven't done it well in advance, you've left it to the last minute. You've had since last April to register and file your tax return. It goes without saying that January is HMRCs busiest time of the year.

HMRC's own documentation said to allow up to 7 working days. Which I have.

But I take your point.

butterflymum

Some people seem to be using the following instead of Government Gateway this year:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introducing-govuk-verify/introducing-govuk-verify

Might have been and indeed may still be, a quicker option for you.

Beware, though, that the service is still in Beta testing.

HMRC Self Assessment website gives option on left hand side to log in via the new Verify method.

chrismac1

"This is incredibly bad advice."

On average I have done this for 5 clients every year for the past 5 years. For example one came last week with the year ending 30 June 14 file, but what was needed was 30 June 13. I filed the same numbers as in 30 June 12 and stated this in the white space notes.

It works. No fines, re-submit with the proper figures within a month. Not a single bit of interest by HMRC shown in any of these submissions.

HMRC policy is "fine first, ask questions later". Where necessary, I have no eithical issues over "file first, ask questions later".

booksurr

quietriot wrote: »

This is incredibly bad advice.

no it is not
the requirement is to FILE a tax return
failure to file at all incurs £100 penalty against which there is NO defence
filing any old drivel ensures that a return is submitted ON TIME and thus negates the penalty
you then have a period in which you can correct your return
if your corrections increase your tax liability and you failt to pay the extra by the payment deadline (which is later than the filing deadline) then you will of course incur an interest charge on the unpaid extra tax however provided that is less than £100 you are still better off than missing the deadline in the fist place, therefore file any old drivel is a compromise but sound strategy