HMRC give self-assessment taxpayers one month waiver

HMRC have announced that they will be waiving late filing and late payment penalties by one month for Self-Assessment taxpayers. This is to give them additional time to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay any due tax if needed.

However, HMRC are still encouraging Self-Assessment tax payers to file and pay on time if they can. The department have announced that out of the 12.2 million people that need to submit a Self-Assessment tax return by 31 January 2022 nearly 6.5 million have already submitted.

HMRC have said that with Covid-19 affecting the capacity of some tax-payers and their agents it is making it increasingly difficult for taxpayers to meet the 31 January deadline. Therefore, HMRC have made the decision to implement a one-month waiver for late filing and late payment penalties.

This is a very welcome concession.

What are the new rules for self-assessment taxpayers?

The official deadline for filing and paying your tax return remains as 31 January 2022. The waiver implemented by HMRC will have two fundamental changes:

• Firstly, anyone who cannot file their tax return by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February. Technically the return will have been filed late but the tax-payer will be treated as if they had a reasonable excuse and so the automatic £100 penalty will not be charged.
• Secondly, anyone who cannot pay their Self-Assessment tax bill by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late payment penalty if they pay their tax in full, or set up a Time to Pay arrangement, before 1 April.

However, it is important to note that interest will be charged with effect from 1 February 2022 for those that miss the 31 January deadline. Therefore, we recommend that you pay on time to avoid any interest payments if you can.

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