Reminders to Pay Income Tax 11 January at 3:16PM in Cutting tax 9 replies 345 views

Possetjohn

Hello everyone,

Is everyone else who files a self assessment tax return getting endless reminders to pay???

I filed mine in early November 2022 and owe £300. I have it set up to be paid by BACS on 18/1/2023.
But I have had a stream of email reminder messages and texts reminding me (imploring me?) to pay.
I know the government are short of money but I am getting a bit annoyed with this!!

It is not due until 31/1/2023.

Does the government pay any of it bills early? I don't think so!!!!!

JGB1955

Yes, I had 2 emails and one text message yesterday.  Another text and email today.  I'll pay it when I'm ready!

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

it's probably just a wee nudge to help you avoid a fine for late payment.

Jeremy535897

I remember the pressure to get a smart meter; phone calls at least once a week, SMS texts 2 or 3 times a week, emails constantly. I didn't want a first generation smart meter as they failed if you switched provider (those were the days...). Eventually I caved in, and agreed to a second generation smart meter. The installer arrived and said "I don't know why I am bothering, the signal won't be good enough round here." It wasn't. It has never worked, but the meter reader has never been back since it was put in. The wonders of modern technology. At least nobody will be able to turn off my supply remotely, although I can't benefit from curbing usage during peak hours.

GrahamLM52

I used to own a small business. I would get harassed by HMRC to pay my tax bill. They would send emails AND a letter in the post that would arrive after we'd already paid. Irritated by this I complained about the waste.

Much to my surprise I got a reply. They were quite candid and said that the database software they used was decades old and had no field to allow them to mark whether a tax bill had been paid or not, so they sent reminders to everyone. They stated that this resulted in 22 million (yes, really, 22 million!) reminder letters being posted out every year, many of which were unnecessary. I did ask how much this cost but they wouldn't say!

dales1

Yes, 5 emails from them in the last month. Annoying and intrusive and unnecessary.

I'll pay nearer the due date.

sheramber

And if they didn't send out reminders , those who forgot to pay on time would complain that they didn't get a reminder.

They don't know you intend to pay next week etc.

GrahamLM52

sheramber said:

And if they didn't send out reminders , those who forgot to pay on time would complain that they didn't get a reminder.

They don't know you intend to pay next week etc.

My point was that they send out multiple reminders by email and letter post even after you have paid. What a waste of paper, ink and postage costs.

ispookie666

Just the sheer volume of reminders makes to want to NOT pay 

purdyoaten2

ispookie666 said:

Just the sheer volume of reminders makes to want to NOT pay 

It’s also misleading- casts doubt in one’s mind as to whether the return was submitted.