An estimated one million individuals across the United Kingdom have missed the crucial self-assessment tax deadline, now confronting an automatic £100 penalty and the prospect of additional charges for late payment. This significant shortfall in filings has emerged despite a substantial last-minute rush, with official figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) painting a detailed picture of taxpayer behaviour as the January 31st cut-off passed.
Last-Minute Filing Frenzy as Deadline Looms
According to the newly released data from HMRC, a total of 11,489,825 tax returns were successfully submitted by the deadline. This figure encompasses expected returns, voluntary submissions, and late registrations. However, the revenue body estimates that approximately one million customers failed to file in time, with these indicative numbers subject to potential adjustment following final ratification.
The statistics reveal a dramatic surge in activity on the final day, Saturday, January 31st. A remarkable 475,722 taxpayers waited until that very day to file their 2024-25 return. The filing patterns show a distinct peak in the evening hours, with the busiest period occurring between 5pm and 5.59pm, when 32,982 people submitted their returns. In a frantic final hour, between 11pm and 11.59pm, an additional 27,456 individuals managed to beat the clock just minutes before the deadline expired.
Substantial Penalties and HMRC Guidance
The financial implications for those who missed the deadline are immediate and severe. Charlene Young, a senior pensions and savings expert at AJ Bell, highlighted the scale of the potential revenue for HMRC, stating: “An estimated one million people failing to file could net HMRC £100 million in automatic fees alone. There is an automatic £100 fine for late filing.”
HMRC has strongly advised anyone who missed the deadline to file their return and meet their tax obligations as soon as possible to mitigate further penalties and late payment interest. The authority's customer service teams were under significant pressure on the final day, handling 5,409 webchats and 10,483 calls to its helplines.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, expressed gratitude to the millions who filed on time but issued a clear warning to others: “Thank you to the millions of people and agents who filed their self-assessment tax return and paid any tax owed by January 31. Anyone who missed the deadline should file their return as soon as possible, as penalties and late payment interest may be charged.”
Options for Late Filers and Future Deadlines
For those now facing penalties, there are specific avenues to explore. HMRC notes that individuals may be able to avoid a penalty if they can demonstrate a reasonable excuse for filing late. Furthermore, for taxpayers struggling to pay their bill in full, time to pay arrangements are available, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
Charlene Young offered further practical advice, emphasising: “If you don’t have an excuse to appeal a fine but still owe money, you might still be able to set up a payment plan to get back on track. It’s essential you don’t put your head in the sand.”
Looking ahead, HMRC has confirmed that the window for filing self-assessment tax returns for the 2025-26 tax year will open from April 6, 2026, giving taxpayers ample time to prepare for the next cycle and avoid the last-minute scramble and associated penalties witnessed this year.
