Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing the £100 default penalty for late tax returns during periods of covid-19 restrictions on working practices.
The Government and HMRC recognise the considerable pressure that many taxpayers and their accountants are facing at present, and that some of those taxpayers will not be able to file their return by 31 January.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced on Monday 25 January that Self-Assessment (SA) taxpayers will not receive a penalty for filing their SA return late provided they file it online by 28 February 2021.
This is not an extension of the deadline and taxpayers’ other SA obligations remain the same, including the obligation to pay their SA liability by 31 January.