If you have an outstanding self-assessment tax liability for 2019/20, you have until 1st April 2021 to pay it or receive a penalty equal to 5% of the amount owing. But is there another option if you’re still struggling?
The normal payment due date for filing tax returns and paying income tax through self-assessment is 31 January following the end of the tax year, i.e. 31 January 2021 for the 2019/20 year. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, HMRC announced some special concessions for 2019/20. It said it would waive the automatic £100 late filing penalty that would usually apply if you missed the deadline – even if you had no tax to pay – as long as the return was filed by the end of February. In terms of payments, a penalty of 5% of any tax still unpaid 30 days after the due date is normally charged. However, for 2019/20 HMRC moved the goalposts for this back to midnight on 1 April 2021. So, you still have two full days to make the payment to avoid the charge. But is there another option?
The good news is that HMRC is allowing struggling taxpayers to set up time to pay arrangements, which allows the tax to be paid in instalments, up to 1 April as well. If an agreement is reached by then, no penalty will apply. You can apply for a payment plan online using this link .
Note. The payment due date itself has not changed – it’s just the penalty regulations that have been relaxed. As a result, interest will apply to unpaid amounts from 1 February as usual.
If you’re not sure whether you have outstanding Self-Assessment then please contact Sarah Shackleton by email at:-
sarah@impala-accountancy.co.uk
We are here to help.