HMRC extends self-assessment tax deadline

27/January/2012

A spot of good news for those who haven't yet filed their self-assessment tax return – HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced what amounts a two-day extension to the deadline.

The deadline for self-assessment tax return is officially midnight on Tuesday January 31st; however, industrial action planned for that day has led the tax authority to take a more lenient approach.

It has confirmed it will not be issuing penalties to anyone who files their tax return on February 1st or 2nd.

It is thought that millions of people are yet to submit their self-assessment tax returns, which must now be done online.

Stephen Banyard, HMRC's acting director general for personal tax, said: "We have always been very clear that we want the returns, not the penalties.

"For that reason, we don't want anyone who can't get through for help and advice on January 31st to be disadvantaged in any way."

Anyone who files after February 2nd will be fined £100, following the taxman's introduction of a new penalty structure.

Last year, more than 570,000 people filed online on the deadline.