Nearly 4 Million Taxpayers Risk Fines for Missing Tax Return Deadline

Frozen income tax allowances force thousands to file self-assessments for the first time, contributing to the surge in late filings.

Nearly four million taxpayers face fines for missing the upcoming tax return deadline, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) stating that 3.8 million people are yet to file with the January 31 deadline just a week away.
Those who miss the deadline risk an automatic £100 late filing penalty, with additional penalties for paying outstanding taxes after the deadline.
Thousands are forced to file self-assessments for the first time this year due to frozen income tax allowances, which means taxpayers are being dragged into higher tax bands.
The Chancellor’s “stealth tax” threshold freeze is equivalent to a six pence rise in income tax and will cost the public an extra £52bn a year by 2027, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Taxpayers have been affected by various customer service issues at the tax authority over the last 18 months, with HMRC being criticized for giving taxpayers just two working days’ notice before closing its self-assessment helpline over the summer.