[07.02.17]
31st January was the deadline for submitting 2015-16 Self Assessment tax returns to HMRC, and paying any tax owed. Hopefully you made the deadline …. but every year many people don’t!
The excuses that HMRC receives from customers who didn’t complete their tax return on time are obviously varied and some will be understandable, perhaps a family bereavement for instance. However, some excuses are unusual to say the least – here’s a selection that HMRC has published from last year:
1. “My tax return was on my yacht…which caught fire”
2. “A wasp in my car caused me to have an accident and my tax return, which was inside, was destroyed”
3. “My wife helps me with my tax return, but she had a headache for ten days”
4. “My dog ate my tax return…and all of the reminders”
5. “I couldn’t complete my tax return, because my husband left me and took our accountant with him. I am currently trying to find a new accountant”
6. “My child scribbled all over the tax return, so I wasn’t able to send it back”
7. “I work for myself, but a colleague borrowed my tax return to photocopy it and lost it”
8. “My husband told me the deadline was the 31st March”
9. “My internet connection failed”
10. “The postman doesn’t deliver to my house”
Don’t be tempted to try using any of these excuses – they were all used in unsuccessful appeals against HMRC penalties for late returns!
On a serious note, if you have missed the deadline there is help and support available if you have a genuine reason. Get in touch with us and we can help you with your correspondence with HMRC.
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