Have you paid your Self-assessment tax bill on time?

You can file your self-assessment tax return online if you are self-employed, or are not self-employed but you still send a tax return, for example, if you receive income from renting out a property.

Late filing penalties

These fines apply, even if you don’t owe HMRC any tax, but have failed to submit a self-assessment tax return. Where there is an either/or option, HMRC applies whichever is the largest amount.

  • 1 day – you’ll have to pay a penalty of £100
  • 3 months – you may have to pay a penalty of £10 a day, for a maximum of 90 days (£900)
  • 6 months – you’ll have to pay a further penalty of 5% of the tax you owe or £300, whichever is greater
  • 12 months – you’ll have to pay a further penalty of 5% of the tax you owe or £300, whichever is greater – in some cases, you may have to pay up to 100% of the tax you owe

Late payment penalties

  • 30 days – you’ll have to pay 5% of the tax you owe at that date
  • 6 months – you’ll have to pay a further penalty of 5% of the tax you owe at that date
  • 12 months – you’ll have to pay a further penalty of 5% of the tax you owe at that date

You may submit an appeal for the penalty, provided you have a reasonable excuse for the late filing:

  • your partner or another close relative died shortly before the tax return or payment deadline
  • you had an unexpected stay in the hospital that prevented you from dealing with your tax affairs
  • you had a serious or life-threatening illness
  • your computer or software failed just before, or while you were preparing your online return
  • service issues with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Online Services
  • a fire, flood or theft prevented you from completing your tax return
  • postal delays that you could not have predicted
  • delays related to a disability you have

About your 2019-2020 return

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the HMRC would not have issued a late filing penalty as long as you have filed your online return by the 28th of February 2021. If you were not able to pay your tax bill in full until 31st January 2021, you may be able to set up an instalment plan (Time to Pay instalment arrangement), given that you do this up to 60 days after 31st January and you owe up to £30,000. You can always contact the HMRC helpline if you need further guidance.

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