Thousands file Self Assessment returns over New Year as HMRC January deadline approaches
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Thousands of taxpayers used the New Year period to submit their Self Assessment tax returns, with more than 54,000 filings made on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as the 31 January deadline for the 2024 to 2025 tax year approaches.
Figures released by HM Revenue and Customs show that 342 customers filed their return in the final hour of 2025, while 19,789 submitted on New Year’s Day itself. The busiest filing window across the two days was between 11am and midday on 31 December, when 3,927 returns were completed.
In total, more than 6.36 million taxpayers have already submitted their Self Assessment returns. HMRC estimates that around 5.65 million people still need to file before the end-of-month deadline. Anyone missing the 31 January cut-off faces an automatic £100 late filing penalty, even if no tax is owed or the tax is paid on time.
HMRC has reiterated that customers can submit their return before making payment, provided the tax due is paid by 31 January. Returns can be started online, saved, and revisited multiple times before submission. Payment options include bank transfer, debit card and the HMRC app, which also allows users to set up reminders for upcoming deadlines.
More than 54,000 taxpayers submitted returns across New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with millions still outstanding ahead of the 31 January cut-off
The tax authority said customers who believe they will miss the deadline should contact HMRC before 31 January. Cases with a reasonable excuse will be considered on their individual circumstances, although penalties will apply where no valid reason is provided.
Late filing penalties increase significantly over time. After three months, daily fines of £10 apply up to a maximum of £900. After six months, an additional penalty of 5 per cent of the tax due or £300 applies, whichever is higher, with a further charge of the same amount after 12 months. Separate penalties and interest apply to late payment of tax owed.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “New Year is a great time to start afresh. What better way than to ensure your tax affairs are in order for another year than completing your tax return. If you have yet to start, the clock is ticking, go to GOV.UK and start today.”
