Don’t fine taxpayers caught by postal strike urge tax bodies

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) are calling on the Government not to issue fines to people whose tax returns are delayed by the postal strikes and miss the 31 October paper return deadline.

CIOT President Andrew Hubbard and ATT President David Stedman have written jointly to the UK's chief taxman, Dave Hartnett, regarding the effect of the industrial action on the 31 October deadline. They have asked him to urgently consider treating all paper returns received within a week of the deadline as if they were received on time, and hence not levy the usual £100 late filing penalty on them.

Andrew Hubbard said: ‘HMRC have said that anyone whose tax return misses the deadline due to the strike should not have to pay the hundred pound fine as they can appeal and have the penalty cancelled. That is welcome.'

However, Andrew adds, ‘Given the chaos likely to hit the postal service over the next few days it would be much more sensible, and less bureaucratic all round, simply to treat all returns which arrive up to a week late as having arrived on time.'

David Stedman said: ‘The regional postal strikes earlier this year led to some letters being delayed by weeks. I would strongly encourage anyone yet to send in their tax return to either deliver it by hand to a local tax office - and keep a note of when they delivered it - or to obtain a ‘proof of posting' certificate from their local post office when they post it. This will enable people to prove to HMRC that they posted in good time even if the return arrives late and they need to appeal.'