Tax return deadline extended – but don't forget to file

With just over a week left until the end of January, many of us are thinking about our tax returns. But this year you have a bit more time to sort out your taxes because HMRC has extended the deadline.

In normal years you have until 31 January to file your tax return, but this year the taxman has pushed the date back to 28 February. However, that doesn’t mean you should wait. Not filing until February could still cost you money.

The new deadline for submitting your tax return

In recent weeks, HMRC has come under increasing pressure to extend the deadline for submitting 2020-2021 tax returns, because the Covid-19 pandemic has left many people struggling to complete their accounts. Accountancy firms have reported “widespread staff shortages caused by the spread of Omicron”, says Harry Brennan in The Daily Telegraph. “They said this was making it impossible for professionals to meet the cut off date, meaning taxpayers faced being unfairly punished for their accountants being off sick.”

Missing the 31 January deadline usually results in an instant £100 fine, plus additional penalties that can leave you owing thousands more. However, HMRC has announced that you won’t face a late filing penalty this year if you submit your tax return online by 28 February.

The end of January also usually marks the deadline for paying any tax due, but this is being extended as well. You won’t face a late-payment penalty provided you pay your bill or set up a “time to pay” arrangement by 1 April. The latter is a new system HMRC brought in to recognise that people could struggle to pay their bills if the pandemic lockdowns affected their income. Under the “time to pay” rules anyone owing up to £30,000 can arrange to pay what they owe in instalments.

You own't be fined, but you’ll still pay interest

However, HMRC isn’t giving you a completely free ride. You won’t pay any penalties if you miss the 31 January deadline for paying your tax bill, but HMRC will start charging interest on anything you owe at a rate of 2.75% from 1 February. So if you can get your tax return filed and your bill paid by the usual end of January deadline, you should make sure you do so.

If you miss the new 28 February deadline, you will immediately be fined £100. After that, £10 a day is added up to a maximum of 90 days. Anyone who is more than six months late in filing will pay the higher of either £300 or 5% of the tax due. If you are a year late filing your tax return HMRC could fine you 100% of the bill.

Still, while you should try to file this month, the benefit of having until 28 February to file without fines is that you don’t need to panic if you’re struggling. Taking the time to get things right could mean you avoid a hefty unexpected bill. HMRC will fine you up to 30% of your bill for careless mistakes, rising to 100% if it thinks the error is deliberate.

Don’t forget Covid-19 loans

It’s particularly important to make sure you understand the rules surrounding any coronavirus-related government handouts you may have received. This is the first year that taxpayers will need to include any Covid-19 support, such as money from the self-employment income support scheme or business support grants. Any payments received through these schemes are subject to income tax, so you need to declare them on your tax return.

“The fact that the Covid-19 support payments are taxable has come as a shock to many and has resulted in unexpected tax bills,” says Michelle Denny-West, a tax partner at the accountancy firm Moore Kingston Smith in The Times.

There are new sections on the tax return where you will need to give details of any Covid-19 loans, grants or payments you received. The money received through these grants will be added to your overall income and taxed accordingly.