HMRC Faces Pressure to Extend Tax Return Deadline Amid Helpline Delays
Thousands of Taxpayers Risk Penalties as They Struggle to Get Assistance Before Deadline
- UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is under pressure to extend the self-assessment tax return deadline due to significant helpline delays.
- Taxpayers who miss the deadline risk an automatic £100 late filing penalty, with additional penalties for paying outstanding taxes after the deadline.
- Thousands are filing self-assessments for the first time this year due to frozen income tax allowances.
- Taxpayers have been unable to get through to HMRC's helpline, with some reporting wait times of up to 40 minutes.
- Experts suggest that HMRC should grant penalty-free deadline extensions to people affected by the helpline delays.