Tax deadline put back by strike

2 million tax returns outstanding, but public sector strike means deadline extended

Of the 9 million people who are due to file tax returns, about 7 million have already done so. With only five days to the official deadline, it is going to be busy and HMRC expect to be able to accept 600,000 returns on the last day. In previous years, problems with their software has meant they have had to extend the deadline.

This year, the public service union (PCS) is on strike on 31 January and with 90,000 phone calls expected that day HMRC has decided not to impose penalties provided returns are filed by midnight on 2 February.

Filing late now means an automatic £100 fine, even if no tax is due. Here at CS Corporate Solutions we think we are getting there (and the extra two days just means our blood pressure will take longer to come back down). But the Coo's Tail continues to wag vigorously for now!