Extra time for online tax returns
The Inland Revenue is allowing taxpayers two more weeks to file their tax returns, after its website buckled under the numbers of people trying to file last minute returns at the weekend.
Despite the Revenue's campaign to encourage online filing, many complained that the system could not cope as people tried to beat the January 31 deadline and avoid an automatic £100 fine.
At first, it was thought that those who missed the deadline because of Revenue's computer problems would still be faced with a fine as the Revenue tried to play down the problem.
But this week the Revenue backed down and said that it would waive the fine, provided there is proof that the first attempt was rejected by the website before the midnight deadline.
However, it vowed to pursue people who fraudulently used Sunday’s break-down as an excuse to avoid being fined.
Apology
The Revenue apologised for the disruption to service and put the following notice on its website:
"We have now resolved the delays in issuing responses to self assessment submissions submitted via the Internet over the weekend. All queued messages have now been cleared and you will have received your submission responses. This applies to returns submitted via our own software or via commercial products.
"We recognise that if the submissions failed our validation, you may be unable to rectify and resubmit before the deadline. We hold a complete record of all submissions over the weekend and if any of those failed submissions are re-submitted within 14 days of the date when we sent out the 'submission failed' message we will waive any late filing penalty notices. Any payments due should still be made by 31 January.
"We apologise for the disruption to the service and can assure you that no details have been lost and there is no need to resubmit successful returns. Any returns submitted today will be processed in the normal manner."
Last year, the Inland Revenue issued 890,000 late-payment fines, worth a total of £8.9 million. It is expected that this year's number will be significantly higher.