Financial guru Martin Lewis has issued an urgent reminder to pensioners and older taxpayers as a crucial deadline for self-assessment tax returns rapidly approaches.
Free Support for Struggling Taxpayers
During a recent episode of his BBC podcast, Lewis was joined by tax specialists, including chartered accountant Rebecca Benneyworth. They addressed a plea for help from an 80-year-old listener named Cathy, who was struggling with HMRC forms despite owing just £150 in tax, and found professional fees prohibitively high.
Ms Benneyworth highlighted the vital, free assistance available from charities. "Tax Help for Older People" deploys volunteers who can visit people at home to sort out their tax affairs. She also recommended "Tax Aid", which, though more London-focused, offers phone and email support. "Lots of tax professionals make donations to those charities... we all think they do an absolutely fabulous job," Benneyworth stated.
Navigating HMRC and Avoiding Penalties
The accountant also suggested that some may find help via HMRC's online webchat service, which can connect users to real advisors. Martin Lewis urged HMRC to enhance its customer service, arguing that "do it right and you collect more tax revenue."
Lewis strongly advised taxpayers to complete their self-assessment forms between October and December, well before the cut-off. The absolute deadline is January 31 to submit returns for the previous tax year. Missing this date triggers an immediate £100 penalty, with further fines accumulating for late payment.
Act Now to Secure Your Finances
The discussion on the podcast covered a range of issues affecting older people, from income tax changes impacting state pensioners to inheritance and capital gains tax. The core message is clear: with the deadline looming, pensioners should seek out the available free help immediately to avoid unnecessary stress and financial penalties.
