Over 2,700 taxpayers took time out from their Christmas Day festivities to go online to file their self assessment tax return, HMRC has revealed
The peak time for completing tax returns on 25 December was 14:00 to 14:59, with more than 200 taxpayers pressing send on their online form.
The number of taxpayers shunning turkey this year in favour of tax calculations was slightly down on the 3,000 who filed on Christmas Day 2019.
In total, 31,400 taxpayers completed their 2019/20 tax returns between 24 and 26 December, compared with the 34,200 who used the same period last year to submit their forms.
Most chose to get filing out of the way along with the last minute wrapping on Christmas Eve, when 20,200 tax returns were filed. The peak time for filing was 11:00 to 11:59 when HMRC received 2,892 returns.
A further 8.500 taxpayers used Boxing Day to catch up on paperwork.
The self assessment deadline is on 31 January, and HMRC is expecting around 11m taxpayers to file.
Once taxpayers know how much tax is owed, they can set up a payment plan to help spread the cost of their tax liabilities, up to the value of £30,000. They can use the self-serve Time to Pay facility to set up monthly direct debits online. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.
Karl Khan, HMRC’s interim director general for customer services, said: ‘Online self assessment means customers can do their tax returns at any time, day or night – even on Christmas Day if they want to.
‘We’re here to help customers get their tax right, and there’s support available 24/7 like help sheets, webinars and YouTube videos. Search ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to find out more.’
