Tax return: HMRC’s payments on account deadline is approaching – here is why it is unfair for the self-employed

Self-assessment taxpayers have until the end of July to pay the latest instalment of their tax return, but is the charge fair? Marc Shoffman explains why this is hurting self-employed people

HMRC forms
(Image credit: Getty Images/Peter Dazeley)

Reminders from HMRC are arriving on the doormats and through the inboxes of the self-employed as millions face an extra tax return bill in the coming weeks when payments on account are due.

Much of the focus on self-assessments is around the 31 January tax return deadline when around 12 million people are usually expected to file a tax return for untaxed earnings from the previous financial year.

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Marc Shoffman
Contributing editor

Marc Shoffman is an award-winning freelance journalist specialising in business, personal finance and property. His work has appeared in print and online publications ranging from FT Business to The Times, Mail on Sunday and the i newspaper. He also co-presents the In For A Penny financial planning podcast.