online tax return no activation code with 1 week to go..questions

kai666

Hi

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me over tax returns

I recently registered for my tax returns, After HM Customs and Excise didn't seem to know about me. The quy said i would get extra time to submit my returns as it was so late, but there no mention of this in any letters I recieved, other than to say i had to meet the deadlines.

So tonight I settle down to complete the online form, but it needs an activation code, and it will take 7 days to arrive. Now there are a few problems here. 1. The deadline is in about 7 days. 2. It's christmas, so it's most unlikely it will arrive within 7 days and 3. I am going away tomorrow till after the deadline for tax returns has passed.

I am hoping that there will be someone to pick up the phone tomorrow, but in the meantime does anyone know whether they do extend the deadline for people register late as I'm guessing i won't get the activation code over the phone? Any advice on getting the activation code quickly? and what happens if i miss the Dec 30th deadline, will i still be ok with jan 31st deadline?

thanks for any help

Hoddie_2

First off, HMRC contact centres are open tomorrow, but calling them won't do you any good. Obviously they won't be able to give you the activation code over the phone, nor could they guarantee to ensure you receive it within 7 days.

Secondly, if the code doesn't arrive tomorrow, and you want to ensure you meet the deadline, you'll have to file a paper return. You can either print them off the web (see below) or otherwise pick one up from a HMRC enquiry centre.

If you want to print them off, you'll need a SA100, a SA101 for each PAYE employment you had during the year, and a SA103 if you were self-employed. All the other less common forms are available from this page.

30 December deadline applies only if you file online, and want HMRC to collect any tax you owe (assuming less than £2,000) through next year's PAYE tax code. Otherwise, it's the 31 January deadline you need to meet.

If you file a paper return, you'll need to calculate your own tax bill and ensure you pay any tax due by 31 January. This calculation guide may help.

Mikeyorks

The only SA deadline on 30th December is for people filing online and where they want a PAYE underpayment of up to £2000 coding out.

The normal deadline is 31st Jan and you appear ('After HM Customs and Excise didn't seem to know about me') to fit that rather than the 30th Dec date? Unless, unusually, - they have issued 'out of turn' Returns to you with a specifically different date.

Contact their online Help Desk (will be open 24/12) if you've applied for registration details - and they're outside the stated delivery time

(Sorry - crossed in the post with Hoddie. But at least we're in unison!)

kai666

many thanks

it all looks really complicated, i hope they issue a 'out of turn' Returns, and that i hope will mean they will work things out

talkinpeace

OP
Bearing in mind that actually filing the return takes around 10 minutes,
chase up HMRC and then sit tight till around January 15 before submitting the paper one.

kai666

talkinpeace wrote: »

OP
Bearing in mind that actually filing the return takes around 10 minutes,
chase up HMRC and then sit tight till around January 15 before submitting the paper one.

will I have to work out what I owe if i wait till the 15th, as that looks the complicated bit?

many thanks

Mikeyorks

kai666 wrote: »

will I have to work out what I owe if i wait till the 15th, as that looks the complicated bit?

Yes .. but you're already past that point (and you're right - it is the complicated bit). But there's absolutely no reason why you won't be in a position to use the online system well before that date. Assuming you've already registered - give them a ring (online Help Desk) tomorrow.

There's a link to the Registration process here. The online desk link is a few paras down - and it's the 'Tax .. ' one you need (Tel: 0845 60 55 999 )

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageOnlineServices_FAQs&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_PROD1_027748

talkinpeace

kai666 -
the online system will work out your tax bill from the numbers you plug in
right up till the 31st (but it will be rather slow by then as we agents clear our backlogs of heart sink clients)
but bear in mind that you have to get the tax to them by the 31st as well (online bank transfer is the best way to do it)

as MikeYorks says, chase up the help desk till the 10th.
Do not panic till at least the 20th
(I save my panicing till at least 10pm on the 30th !!)

kai666

talkinpeace wrote: »

kai666 -
the online system will work out your tax bill from the numbers you plug in
right up till the 31st (but it will be rather slow by then as we agents clear our backlogs of heart sink clients)
but bear in mind that you have to get the tax to them by the 31st as well (online bank transfer is the best way to do it)

as MikeYorks says, chase up the help desk till the 10th.
Do not panic till at least the 20th
(I save my panicing till at least 10pm on the 30th !!)

ok, I can go to bed reassurred that I won't have the nightmare of working it all out for myself. Many thanks to you and MikeYorks for all the help. I will be on the phone early tomorrow

Mikeyorks

talkinpeace wrote: »

(I save my panicing till at least 10pm on the 30th !!)

You would think (if my memory serves this is the 10th anniversary of full SA?) .... HMRC would celebrate by granting extra time, this year!

After all the Treasury welcomed the first year with the triumphalism that it had brought in £4Bn extra - because people could no longer hide behind (Schedule 'D') appeals. So, despite the millions of man hours processing those daft paper returns (and that's only on the HMRC side) .... one would expect the enhanced yield should be shared with a bit of benevolence to customers?

Note - must develop better fantasies in the New Year!

talkinpeace

Mikeyorks
it may be the tenth anniversary of SA
but only the third of us starting to trust the online system
and just look at the pigs ear they are making of CIS at the moment!!