3.4m people have until end of January to file tax returns

Around 8.6 million people have already filed their 2023-24 tax return, HMRC said.

Vicky Shaw
Thursday 23 January 2025 09:00 EST
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The deadline to file an online tax return is January 31 (PA)
The deadline to file an online tax return is January 31 (PA) (PA Archive)

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Some 3.4 million people have around a week left to file their tax return or face potential penalties.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding people to file on time or risk missing the January 31 deadline – and getting an initial £100 penalty.

Some 8.6 million people have already filed their 2023-24 tax return.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, said: “Time is running out for the millions still to file their self-assessment tax return by January 31.

“Help and support is available for those who have not yet started their return. Visit gov.uk and search ‘self assessment’ to find out more.”

HMRC said people should include their bank details as part of their tax return to ensure that if there is any repayment due, it can be done quickly and securely.

Time is running out for the millions still to file their self assessment tax return by January 31

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC

Excuses for not paying a tax bill or arranging a payment plan by the deadline will be considered on an individual basis, the revenue body said.

Those who provide HMRC with a reasonable excuse may avoid a penalty.

Scammers can use this time to strike and may pose as HMRC. The revenue body said people should never share their HMRC login details with anyone.

A report, published by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, highlighted concerns that HMRC has been degrading its own services “as a matter of policy” and damaging public confidence in the tax system.

However, HMRC hit back strongly, with Sir Jim Harra, first permanent secretary and chief executive of the revenue body, saying earlier this week: “The committee’s claims about our customer service are completely baseless. In reality, we’ve made huge improvements to our service standards, with call wait times down by 17 minutes since April last year.”

Sir Jim has said that HMRC has received extra funding so it can improve its telephony service performance.

PAC chairman Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has urged the revenue body to “take seriously” the committee’s recommendations.

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