ATT says significant disruption to the government gateway over the last week has caused difficulties and confusion for many employers and agents submitting returns in advance of the Easter bank holiday weekend.

It is calling for an extension of the payroll submission deadline to 19 May, rather than the current date of 19 April.

Under the Real Time Information (RTI) system, this is the first year that the submission deadline has been moved from the old deadline of 19 May to 19 April. ATT says this has significantly reduced the submission window, as the return requires answers to questions that often cannot be known until after the end of the tax year on 6 April.  

Natalie Miller, ATT president, said: ‘The new system was always going to be vulnerable to any issues arising with the gateway in this short time period. Many employers and agents will have planned to file over last weekend, in advance of taking time off for the Easter school holidays. These disruptions will have caused considerable stress for those involved.

'In addition, this year’s deadline falls on a bank holiday weekend, effectively reducing the number of work days available for employers and agents to file now anyway.’

ATT also wants to see the deadline permanently moved back to the original date.  

Miller said: ‘As an association we are requesting not just an extension to this year’s deadline, but a permanent move back to 19 May, as there is no guarantee that these problems will not happen again. Such a tight deadline leaves absolutely no room for failure.’