31 Jan and HMR&C "online service temporarily unavailable"

hopon

Sally14 wrote: »

Incidently, I've been trying to get on the SA website again today to view some payment details for a client but so far I still can't get on - it lets me log on but then just hangs.:mad:

I've been having problems logging in to view clients today but haven't had any issues with tax return submissions using our software this year, they've all gone through fine

Wish they'd sort out the gateway delays on the Paye/Cis systems though.

Gary_Delaney

Self assessment seems to be down again today. Been trying for an hour or so. It was letting you in then freezing now it won't let you in at all. When you ring up they give you a reference number to prove you rang. Think this is so you can appeal against the penalty. Think it would be fairer if they extend the deadline and fix their computers so you can actually submit your returns. Hopefully media will pick up on it like yesterday and apply pressure.

Sally14

hopon wrote: »

I've been having problems logging in to view clients today but haven't had any issues with tax return submissions using our software this year, they've all gone through fine

Yes same here, no problems at all with our software (IRIS):j

Anon

Finally, after another frustrating morning of crashes, it let me in and let me file my return (despite their ever so helpful helpline saying that there were no problems today, only possibly too many people trying to access it at once - yes, that would be the people who could not get in yesterday!!).

Mental note to self - get the blooming thing sorted before the deadline next year and then just leave the payment until near the deadline as their systems clearly cannot cope!

Anon

Ted_Bloke

millie wrote: »

It has just been on BBC News 24 that they are having problems with their website, and anyone who files on line will not be fined as long as it is done by midnight on 1st Feb

But does this below mean in practice we have all week end to finish it? Not that I want to, I have other things to do also this evening. :mad:

From the BBC item. "In line with normal practice as our offices are not open at weekends any returns and payments in our letterboxes when we open up on Monday will be considered as being on time," she added."

I am ready but I just have this circle thingy going round.

What does ssoout mean = system out?

Edit:
Have just seen this on the HMRC site "Record Numbers File Online despite service problems
Over 200,000 Self Assessment returns were successfully filed online on Thursday 31st January with a record 3.7 million online returns filed in total. However problems with the service meant that some taxpayers experienced difficulties filing online.
HMRC takes any disruption of service very seriously and to reflect this everyone who files electronically or by paper by midnight Friday 1 February will be treated as having filed on time.
We very much regret any inconvenience this may have caused."

dfh4np

Trying to get on just now, logs on ok but when i hit access service it cannot find the page.

Been trying for 2 hours now.

DFH4NP:mad:

fergie19cameron

I don't understand everyone that leaves it to the last minute, I'd completed mine by the end of april!! Best thing to do is complete straight away then you can't forget about it and you won't be moaning about not being able to access the site on the very last day to submit.

Also why is everyone moaning about it on here?? Shouldn't you be trying to submit it before midnight?????????

johnllew

Anon wrote: »

need to provide systems that can cope no matter what the demand.

So you think they should spend a pile of money so that their systems can cope whatever happens? So if everyone left it till the last minute, they'd have a server that could take everything that could be thrown at it just for one day and then have massive capacity lie idle for the rest of the year?

Get real and file your return early next time.

Ted_Bloke

johnllew wrote: »

So you think they should spend a pile of money so that their systems can cope whatever happens? So if everyone left it till the last minute, they'd have a server that could take everything that could be thrown at it just for one day and then have massive capacity lie idle for the rest of the year?

Get real and file your return early next time.

Sure I will do that.

But it is not beyond the wit of man to solve a capacity problem like the one you mention - they could rent capacity worldwide for a few days. In any case if the flow is markedly uneven there must be spare capacity which I imagine is not left idle. After all, this is not some crummy little private firm this is the national government... oh

Elaine_Wilson

I'm sorry if I offend those you haven't suffered problems but I agree with anon that the Revenue must provide a sufficiently robust sytem that can cope with the demand.

If this was just an additional service which is provided for our benefit then I might have some sympathy. But there is a general move to enforcing the filing of documents online. At the moment large companies must file their annual payroll summaries online and this will soon be obligatory for everyone. And remember that this will include any employer, even someone who takes on a nanny. and there are automatic penalties for not complying with the deadlines.

This is being extended to other submissions.

Pam17 said

I think HMRC have been very generous extending the deadline given that those taxpayers have had 10 months to get their tax returns in.

But we haven't had ten months to submit our return. The system has been down for some of that time.

I think the answer is to rewrite the penalty legislation. It should be a general principle that for any time-limited penalty the limit is extended for one day whenever the systems are down for a certain time, such as 2 hours within a twenty-four hour period.