With less than a month before the self-assessment deadline on 31 January 2024, 5.7 million taxpayers are still yet to file their tax returns for the 2022/23 tax year.
The number of self-assessment customers leaving their returns until the last month closely mirrors the beginning of 2023, indicating a persistent procrastination trend.
Filing over the festive period
Around 6.5m people have already filed their self-assessment tax returns for 2022/23, with many taxpayers using the holidays to tackle their personal tax obligations.
According to HMRC, 25,769 returns were filed between 24 and 26 December 2023. In total, 8,876 customers submitted their returns on Christmas Eve while 4,757 filed on Christmas Day, peaking at 402 returns received between noon and 12.59 pm. Boxing Day recorded slightly higher activity, with 12,136 tax returns recorded.
A further 23,724 taxpayers chose New Year's Day to file, surpassing the 17,571 individuals last January who stuck to their New Year's resolution to submit their tax returns.
On New Year's Eve, 25,593 taxpayers completed their returns, while 127 individuals opted to finalise theirs as they welcomed in the New Year between midnight and 12.59 am.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's director general for customer services, urged self-assessment taxpayers to file their returns as soon as possible:
"The clock is ticking for those customers yet to file their tax return. Don't put it off - kick start the new year by sorting your self-assessment."
Taxpayers who fail to file their returns by the deadline will face an initial late payment penalty of £100, even if no tax is due. Further delays can result in more severe penalties, while unpaid bills will incur late-payment interest.
HMRC offers support and advice for those unable to pay their tax bill on time. Some customers may be able to set up a "Time to Pay" arrangement - an affordable payment plan that allows taxpayers to pay their bills in instalments.
Self-assessment helpline restrictions
Lloyd's call for taxpayers to complete their tax returns well in advance of the deadline follows news that HMRC is reducing telephone support in the run-up to the 31 January deadline.
In early December 2023, the tax authority announced that it would be screening calls until the deadline to assess the complexity of questions from taxpayers and their agents. If HMRC believes an enquiry can be answered using online resources, customers will be directed to a digital service instead of speaking to an adviser directly.
Meanwhile, the Agent Dedicated Line will exclusively take calls about self-assessment, as well as payments and repayments, during the peak filing period. Those with other queries will therefore need to use other channels or online assistance to resolve them.
The new restrictions to the telephone support service come after the self-assessment helplines were closed for three months during the summer, sparking fears at the time that it would create a bottleneck of taxpayers trying to file in January.
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