Self Assessment deadline extended for two days
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has extended the 31 January deadline for online tax return submissions until the 2 February, due to its expected call centre strike.
As reported earlier today, a large majority of HMRC's call centre staff are expected to strike on 31 January, which will affect the 90,000 people that typically call the helpline on deadline day for assistance.
HMRC acknowledged that this will delay some submissions until after the deadline and confirmed today that anyone submitting a return on the 1 or 2 February will not be issued an automatic £100 late penalty fine.
David Gauke, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said: "This strike could have caused thousands of people to incur fines, so I am pleased that HMRC has taken this common sense approach.
"The government does not want anyone trying to file their tax return on time to be unfairly penalised because they were unable to get through for help and advice on the 31st."
Related article:
An entrepreneur's guide to Self Assessment tax returns
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