The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals

27 January 2012

HMRC has disclosed that taxpayers will have an extra two days to file their online self-assessment tax returns, after industrial action threatened call centres on deadline day.

The Telegraph reports:

HMRC has confirmed that taxpayers will have an extra two days to file their online tax returns, after industrial action threatened call centres on deadline day.

Those who file self-assessment returns will not be charged a £100 penalty if they miss the January 31 deadline, and will not have to pay any interest on tax owed until February 2, an HM Revenue & Customs spokesman said.

This is due to a planned strike on January 31 by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU) over contracts being given to private sector companies. As many as 7,000 HM Revenue and Customs staff are planning to walk out at its four call centres on 31 January, the deadline for people to file their annual self assessment tax returns.

Stephen Banyard, Acting Director General for Personal Tax, said that he was not extending the tax deadline, just delaying the issue of penalties.

"We've always been very clear that we want the returns – not the penalties," he said. "For that reason, we don't want anyone who can't get through for help and advice on 31 January to be disadvantaged in any way."

Around 600,000 people are expected to file their tax returns on January 31, usually the last day to file without penalty. Although the strike will not stop people from filing online it will be harder than normal to get through to HMRC's call centres.