One million miss HMRC tax deadline

Around one million individuals failed to meet the deadline for submitting their self-assessment tax return, resulting in automatic penalties, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC stated that 27,456 taxpayers filed their returns in the final hour before the midnight cut-off at the end of Saturday. The tax authority had extended helpline and webchat services over the weekend to assist late filers.

The busiest period for online submissions was between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday. In total, 475,722 people submitted their returns on the final day, bringing the overall number of submissions for the 2024–25 tax year to approximately 11.5 million.

Those who did not file on time now face an automatic £100 penalty, regardless of whether there is any tax to pay or if the tax owed has already been settled. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, expressed gratitude to those who met the deadline and advised late filers to submit their returns promptly to avoid further penalties and interest on late payments.

While most employees pay tax automatically through PAYE, self-assessment remains mandatory for individuals with additional income. This includes those earning over £1,000 from self-employment or from renting out property or land during the tax year. Some individuals were no longer required to submit a return this year, including those whose sole previous reason for filing was earning above £150,000, or parents who now pay the high income child benefit charge through PAYE instead of self-assessment.

The number of taxpayers missing the deadline this year is similar to last year. HMRC’s penalty regime becomes more severe the longer a return remains outstanding. In addition to the initial £100 fine, late filers can incur daily penalties of £10 after three months, capped at £900, with further penalties after six and 12 months.

Separate penalties also apply for late tax payments, with 5% surcharges imposed after 30 days, six months, and 12 months, along with interest on unpaid balances. HMRC has stated it will consider reasonable excuses for missing the deadline and may cancel penalties where appropriate. However, tax experts advise against delaying action.