Tax return deadline looms

The dog was sick on my homework might have worked with the occasional history essay at school, but the majority of excuses won't wash with the Inland Revenue for late tax returns.

With just a couple of weeks to go before the 31 Jan 2005 deadline for tax returns, self assessment tax payers should be aware that there are only a very few acceptable excuses and late returns are likely to result in an automatic fine.

Stephen Herring from accountants BDO Stoy Hayward said: "The thought of filling in the form is often worse than actually completing it. Even if you don’t have the last pieces of information you need, it is important not to delay submission because as well as a £100 fine you will also be charged interest on any tax due."

Stephen Herring offered the following advice:

• sign the return and date it;
  
• attach all relevant supplementary pages;
  
• ensure the ten-digit reference number is on the return
  
• do not send cheques with the return, send them separately
  
• do include all income, even if taxed at source (such as bank interest or dividend payments and state pension) but do not include any income or gains from ISAs, PEPs or TESSA only ISAs (TOISAs);
  
• include all relevant claim forms;
  
• enter actual amounts - don’t put ‘as per P60’ or ‘as attached’;
  
• remember that tax reliefs such as pension contributions, qualifying donations to charities and personal allowances need to be included;
  
• if you want to file online you will need to register first and receive a user ID through the post;
  
• compare your finished return to last year’s, but don’t forget new sources of income include full details of any valuations used, including copies of third party correspondence and include full details of any assumptions made;
  
• keep a copy of your return and a copy of all records and supplementary information - fines can be charged if copies are not kept;
  
• check carefully for errors as wrongly completed forms can be rejected;
  
• filing before 31 January by hand or recorded delivery will minimise chances of your return going astray;
  
• finally, if in doubt, access the Revenue’s website for advice or consult an accountant

Excuses

According to BDO Stoy Hayward, there are very few excuses that the Revenue may consider acceptable for late filing of a tax return, and even fewer for errors, intentional or otherwise.

The Inland Revenue may accept as a reason for delay:

• fire or flood at the post office where the tax return was handled
  
• prolonged industrial action in the Post Office
  
• loss of records through fire, flood or theft
  
• very serious illness
  
• death of a very close relative or partner ‘shortly before the deadline’.

The Inland Revenue will not accept:

• finding the tax form too difficult to complete;
  
• pressure of work
  
• failure by a tax agent
  
• lack of information
  
• absence of reminders by the Revenue
  
• being away on holiday.