HMRC could rake in up to £100m from taxpayers failing to submit their tax returns by this Friday, but there are some valid excuses for a late submission, says Chris Etherington
Penalties for late filing are issued automatically, and taxpayers can appeal them if they have a reasonable excuse, but this is a complicated area, heightened by the stress of meeting the annual online self assessment deadline.
Chris Etherington, partner at RSM, said: ‘What classifies as reasonable is not always well understood and HMRC has previously published lists of some of the unsuccessful attempts, including excuses like the death of a goldfish, a run-in with a cow and a hamster eating the post.
‘Individuals suffering from an illness or a mental health condition may have grounds for an appeal against a late filing penalty.While these excuses may liven up an HMRC officer’s day, a taxpayer making a reasonable excuse will need to show they have taken reasonable care in trying to meet their obligations. Part of the test involves imagining what someone similar to you might have done in the same circumstances if they wanted to meet the deadline.
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