HMRC Self Assessment Late Penalties

HMRC has a penalty system in place for not submitting your self assessment tax return on time.

The self assessment late penalties are automatic and vary in value depending on how late you are in submitting your tax return.

Interest is added to late penalties that are not paid within the allocated timescales.

In addition to late tax return penalties HMRC can also apply late payment interest to tax that you owe them.

What are the self assessment late penalties?

The penalty values increase gradually based on how many weeks after the deadline your tax return is late.

If your tax return is late by:

• 1 day you will be given a penalty of £100.
• 3 months the penalty could be £10 per day up to a maximum of 90 days which totals £900.
• 6 months a further penalty of £300 or 5% of the tax you owe whichever is greater.
• 12 months an additional penalty of £300 or 5% of the tax you owe or whichever is greater.

Self Assessment late penalty calculator

You can use the self assessment late penalty calculator to estimate how much you will be fined if you have missed your SA deadline.

The late penalty calculator gives you an estimation of both late penalties and late payment interest.

HMRC late payment interest 

Late payment interest is a separate penalty system and is dedicated to tax that is owed to HMRC and not paid on time.

The late payment interest penalties are automatic and are on top of any late tax return submission penalties.

If your tax is not paid on time by:

• 30 days a penalty is issued worth 5% of the tax you owe at that date.
• 6 months a further penalty of 5% of the tax you owe at that date.
• 12 months an additional penalty of 5% of the tax you owe at that date.

Can I appeal a late Self Assessment penalty?

HMRC allow you to appeal a late self assessment penalty but only after your tax return has been submitted and processed.

It is suggested by HMRC that you pay your late penalty (even if you are making an appeal) because if your appeal is not successful you will need to pay interest on the late penalty.

Self assessment late penalty appeal online:

For appeals of a £100 fixed late filing penalty you can submit your appeal online. You will need to use your government gateway account to get access to the online appeal service.

Self assessment late penalty appeal by post or phone:

To make an appeal offline or for a penalty that is more than the £100 fixed late filing penalty you can make a submission by post or phone and will need your UTR number.

By post you should complete form SA370 and send it to the address given on the form.

By phone you can call the self assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310.