The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have launched a campaign to remind tax payers in the UK to file their tax returns by the 31 January.
Part of the their campaign highlights the top ten most terrible excuses for missing the deadline.
They say many of the excuses claim it was someone else’s fault – pets, girlfriends, work colleagues and even the President of the United States has been blamed for taxpayers’ tardiness.
Top ten excuses
The top ten list of excuses used in unsuccessful appeals against HMRC penalties for late filing and payment are:
- My pet dog ate my tax return…and all the reminders.
- I was up a mountain in Wales, and couldn’t find a postbox or get an internet signal.
- I fell in with the wrong crowd.
- I’ve been travelling the world, trying to escape from a foreign intelligence agency.
- Barack Obama is in charge of my finances.
- I’ve been busy looking after a flock of escaped parrots and some fox cubs.
- A work colleague borrowed my tax return, to photocopy it, and didn’t give it back.
- I live in a camper van in a supermarket car park.
- My girlfriend’s pregnant.
- I was in Australia.
Do it now to avoid a fine
HMRC Director General of Personal Tax, Ruth Owen, said:
“People can have a genuine excuse for missing a tax deadline, but owning a pet with a taste for HMRC envelopes isn’t one of them.
“You need to file your 2013/14 tax return online, and pay what you owe, by 31 January. But it’s best to do it now, to allow plenty of time to sort out any issues with your return. That way, you’ll avoid the busy period for our phone lines as the deadline approaches.”
The official bits
All outstanding 2013/14 tax returns must now be submitted online, as the 31 October paper-filing deadline has passed.
Help and advice on filing your return – including how to register for online filing – is available from the GOV.UK website or the Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310 (open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4pm on Saturday).
