Top Excuses For Not Getting A Tax Return In On Time

Top excuses for not getting a tax return in on time

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Get your tax return in by the end of the month or get £100 fine

It’s a bore but has to be done. I still haven’t done mine, even though I have an accountant! I have to get a few bits of information to him and I keep putting it off.

The people at HMRC are always very helpful if you’re not sure. It’s a free service so call them up if you get stuck.

Remember that if you get in touch with them it won’t suddenly trigger interest from them. They’re always happy to help and what they don’t like is people not getting in touch, even after letters and letters. If you think you can’t pay your tax bill just tell them and they will arrange a payment schedule over a few months.

Just to make you feel better, in the meantime here are their top 10 excuses from last year’s late payers (these are genuine):

My pet goldfish died (self-employed builder);

I had a run-in with a cow (Midlands farmer);

After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else (London woman);

My wife won’t give me my mail (self-employed trader);

My husband told me the deadline was 31 March, and I believed him (Leicester hairdresser);

I’ve been far too busy touring the country with my one-man play (Coventry writer);

My bad back means I can’t go upstairs. That’s where my tax return is (a working taxi driver);

I’ve been cruising round the world in my yacht, and only picking up post when I’m on dry land (South East man);

Our business doesn’t really do anything (Kent financial services firm); and

I’ve been too busy submitting my clients’ tax returns (London accountant).