Crystal Umbrella

Senders of tax returns will be given a little leeway by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this year due to the nationwide postal strike.

The 31^st October date for returns is being put back to the 2^nd November as the 31^st falls on a weekend. It’s worth noting also that any returns received the first working day after the deadline will be accepted, too.

Because of the postal strike, HMRC has also stated that any tax returns received after November 2^nd will be processed as normal – so long as the sender has proof that they posted it on or before October 31^st.

It’s also worth noting that any tax returns that are unable to be completed on time can be handed in to the nearest tax office by November 2^nd. Those electing to complete tax returns online have until January 31^st to submit theirs.

Senders of late submissions will face a fixed penalty of £100, although if the sender has a valid excuse for their tax return being received after the deadline, it is possible to appeal.

Any taxpayer who can prove that their return was posted on or prior to October 31^st is within their rights to appeal and is likely to have the £100 penalty overturned.

Those submitting their tax return via post are advised to obtain evidence of the posting date, as HMRC do not check the postmarks on any tax return received after November 2^nd.

Tags: HMRC, Postal Strike, Tax Returns

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 2:59 pm and is filed under HMRC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.