HMRC warning as 335,000 Brits could risk £100 fine if they miss deadline

A warning has been issued to 335,000 people ahead of a major deadline this month.

The deadline for submitting your paper self-assessmentreturns falls on October 31, and according to Totally Money, around 335,000 people need to be aware of this date. If you are a self-assessment taxpayer, then you need to tell HMRC how much you have earned and how much tax you will be paying. This year's deadline is for the 2023/24 tax year.

If you pay your taxes online, the deadline for and paying what you owe is January 31. However, if you want to file your return on paper, you have to do it earlier. Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney, says it's vital that the 335,000 people who submit by paper do it before the deadline, as they could face a fine of £100 if they miss it.

He said: "For many, submitting tax returns online by January 31, 2025, will not only be the easier option but the one that buys the most time. However, more than 300,000 people are quickly headed toward this month's October 31 paper tax return deadline.

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"With fines of £100 in place for late submissions of up to three months, it's important not to get caught out. And if you need to fill in the foreign income and gains, or the trust and estate pages, you'll be required to do it with a paper form as they're not available to complete online."

You could be charged even more if you fail to submit it within three months of the deadline and then charged more on top of this if it is later - plus interest - or if you pay your tax bill late. With more people taking up side hustles over the last few years, the number of people needed to register for self-assessment is expected to rise.

If you think you could potentially miss it - particularly due to mental health or other medical reasons - then there is help available from HMRC. Alastair added: "For some with vulnerabilities or in special circumstances, physical forms might also be easier. This can include dyslexia, autism, sensory disabilities or other health issues such as stress and depression.

"If this includes you, then contact HMRC's extra support team for assistance. They're specially trained and can guide you through the process with a video appointment or phone call — you'll just need to mention your situation when contacting the HMRC helpline or webchat.

"You can also designate somebody to deal with HMRC on your behalf, and this doesn't just have to be a tax or accountancy professional or voluntary organisation, but can also be a close friend or family member who you trust. There are forms available so don’t hesitate to get support if you need it."

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