One million people missed HMRC tax return deadline

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced on Sunday, February 1, 2025, that approximately 1.1 million taxpayers across the United Kingdom failed to file their self-assessment tax returns by the midnight deadline on January 31. The tax authority reported that while the vast majority of citizens met the cut-off, a significant portion of the population now faces immediate financial penalties for failing to submit their financial records for the 2023-24 tax year. The surge in last-minute activity was particularly intense, with 27,456 individuals submitting their digital forms in the final hour before the Saturday night deadline. According to the official figures, nearly 12.1 million people were expected to file returns this year. HMRC confirmed that 10.9 million returns were received on time, representing a high compliance rate despite the large number of late filers. Those who missed the deadline will be hit with an initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay or if the tax due is paid on time. If the return is more than three months late, additional daily penalties of £10 per day may be applied, significantly increasing the financial burden on procrastinating taxpayers. Government officials noted that the digital infrastructure handled a massive influx of traffic during the final window, as thousands of residents scrambled to avoid the fine. However, for those with reasonable excuses for missing the date—such as serious illness, a recent bereavement, or technical failures on the HMRC website—there is an appeals process available. HMRC has urged those who have not yet filed to do so as quickly as possible to prevent further interest charges and escalating surcharges from accumulating over the coming months.