Jan 2014
12
HMRC January 31st Deadline - odd excuses!
If you miss the 31st January tax deadline…consider your excuse to HMRC
31 January deadline for online tax returns
You must send, and pay your tax liability, your online Self Assessment tax return for 2012-13 by Friday 31st January 2014. If your online tax return is late, you will have to pay a penalty.
Exception – Reasonable excuse for missing the deadline
If you miss the 31st January deadline you may not have to pay a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse. For example, there may have been an unexpected or unusual event, beyond your control, which meant you couldn’t send your return on time.
HMRC recently reflect on top 10 oddest excuses
HMRC recently revealed the 10 oddest excuses they received for submitting late tax returns, assume these are considered unreasonable….
The following bizarre, exotic and flimsy excuses have all been used by tardy taxpayers:
1. My pet goldfish died (self-employed builder)
2. I had a run-in with a cow (Midlands farmer)
3. After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else (London woman)
4. My wife won’t give me my mail (self-employed trader)
5. My husband told me the deadline was 31 March, and I believed him (Leicester hairdresser)
6. I’ve been far too busy touring the country with my one-man play (Coventry writer)
7. My bad back means I can’t go upstairs. That’s where my tax return is (a working taxi driver)
8. I’ve been cruising round the world in my yacht, and only picking up post when I’m on dry land (South East man)
9. Our business doesn’t really do anything (Kent financial services firm)
10. I’ve been too busy submitting my clients’ tax returns (London accountant)
All of these people and businesses received a £100 penalty from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for filing late. They appealed against the decision using these excuses, but were unsuccessful.
