HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has disclosed that on Christmas Day a total of 4,757 individuals completed their 22/23 self assessment tax return.
The deadline for a tax return to be submitted for the 22/23 tax year is the 31 January 2024 so these festive filers are well ahead of the deadline and avoiding late submission penalties.
Despite the day’s usual focus on indulging in food, drinks, and exchanging presents HMRC are pleased that a significant number of individuals managed to find time to fulfil their obligation of filing their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year.
During the three day festive period a greater number of people totalling 25,769 submitted their tax return in comparison to the same period in 2022.
8,876 individuals filed on Christmas Eve, while 12,136 completed their returns on Boxing Day.
The busiest time for submissions occurred between 12:00 and 12:59 on Boxing Day with HMRC receiving 1,121 self assessment tax returns during that hour.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
“Our Christmas Day filers proved that there is no time like the present to get started on Self Assessment, and with our online tool it can be a simple task that’s easy to fit around other festive commitments. There’s no need to delay, getting it done ahead of the 31 January deadline means less stress and longer to work out payment options.”
It looks like most tax return filers were submitting during lunchtime – quite possibly whilst snacking on some left over turkey or pigs in blackets…
During the festive period the number of tax returns filed can be broken down as follows:
- On Christmas Eve, a total of 8,876 tax returns were submitted. The busiest time for filing was between 12:00 and 12:59, with 850 returns received during that hour.
- On Christmas Day, there were 4,757 tax returns filed. The peak time for filing was also between 12:00 and 12:59, with 402 returns received within that hour.
- On Boxing Day, the number of tax returns filed was 12,136. The busiest hour for filing was once again between 12:00 and 12:59, with 1,121 returns received.
Not submitted your 2022/2023 tax return yet?
If you’re still waiting to complete your 22/23 tax return it’s recommended that you don’t leave it too late to avoid automatice SA penalties.
Self assessment help is out there if you need it from both HMRC and other organisations if you have a lower income.
Support and guidance is offered by HMRC online and (up to the 31 January 2024) in a more limited way over the phone through their taxes helpline.
Online HMRC offers a range of options to access most of the more basic self assessment queries like what is my ten digit UTR number?
You can use your personal tax account, the HMRC app and digital assistant to get information relating to your tax return at a conveinient time for you.
For self assessors who have lower incomes organisations like TaxAid, LITRG and tax help for older people are around to give free support and guidance.
Paying your 2022/2023 self assessment tax bill
If you are faced with a self assessment tax bill there’s a few different ways of doing it with online usually the easiest.
HMRC also offer a time to pay arrangement in some cases which can help by allowing you to spread your self assessment tax bill over an agreed period of time.
You can usually arrange a time to pay agreement online or over the phone via the HMRC tax helpline.
