HMRC: Two weeks to go to file your self assessment

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging taxpayers to file their Self Assessment tax returns by the 31 January 2025 deadline to avoid a £100 late filing penalty.

More than 7.4 million customers have already submitted their tax returns for the 2023 to 2024 tax year since the filing window opened on 6 April 2024.

With just two weeks remaining, HMRC is calling on the millions yet to file to act now and take advantage of the wide range of support available to ensure they meet the deadline.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

“The Self Assessment deadline is fast approaching, don’t leave completing your tax return to the last minute. There is plenty of support available to make filing as straightforward as possible, just search ‘help with Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to find out more.”

Who Needs to File?

People may need to file a Self Assessment tax return if they:

• Are newly self-employed and earned gross income over £1,000.
• Earned below £1,000 but wish to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits.
• Are a new partner in a business partnership.
• Received untaxed income over £2,500.
• Receive Child Benefit and need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge because their income (or their partner’s) exceeded £50,000.

Anyone who no longer needs to file a Self Assessment tax return should notify HMRC now via an online form to avoid unnecessary correspondence.

How to Get Started

First-time filers must register with HMRC before they can submit their tax return. Registration can be completed on GOV.UK, but customers should allow up to 10 working days to receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), which is required to file online.

Self Assessment customers can pay any tax owed quickly and securely through the HMRC app. A full list of payment options is available on GOV.UK.

HMRC offers a range of resources to help taxpayers file their returns, including:

• Webinars and detailed guidance on GOV.UK.
• Step-by-step helpsheets.
• Video tutorials on YouTube.

Simply search “help with Self Assessment” on GOV.UK to access these resources.

HMRC warns taxpayers to remain vigilant against scams. Criminals often use emails, texts, and phone calls to impersonate HMRC and steal personal or financial information.

Before sharing any details, taxpayers should search “HMRC tax scams” on GOV.UK to access a checklist to verify if the communication is genuine. Additionally, taxpayers are reminded to never share their HMRC login credentials with anyone.

Time is running out to meet the 31 January deadline. Act now to avoid penalties and ensure compliance.

For more information or assistance, visit GOV.UK or contact HMRC directly.