This compared with 10.2m completed returns by the 2021 deadline, although HMRC did extend the filing period due to the fallout from the pandemic.

On 31 January, 861,085 taxpayers filed online to meet the deadline, some with minutes to spare - 36,767 individuals filed in the last hour before the deadline.

The peak hour for filing on the day was 16:00 and 16:59 when 68,462 taxpayers submitted their tax return.

In total, 11,733,465 (97.3%) returns were received before the deadline, meaning an estimated 327,407 taxpayers missed the deadline – raising £32m in late penalties for HMRC.

Around 10.9m (94.5%) of returns were filed online, with 385,296 (3.4%) filed on paper, following adjustments.