Only a week to go until the deadline for sending 2017-18 self-assessment tax returns.
Not only is Thursday, January 31st the final day for completing tax returns online, it is also the day HMRC begin to receive unusual excuses from people who failed to complete their returns on time.
The excuses made by self-assessment customers include: “I’m too short to reach the post box”; “I was just too busy – my first maid left, my second maid stole from me, and my third maid was very slow to learn”; “Our junior member of staff registered our client in self-assessment by mistake because they were not wearing their glasses.”*
We want to make it as simple as possible for our customers to do their tax returns and the majority make the effort to do theirs right and on time,” said Angela MacDonald, HMRC director general of customer services.
“But each year we still come across some poor excuses and expenses which range from problems with maids to televisions.
“Help will always be provided for those who have a genuine excuse for not submitting their return on time but it’s unfair to the majority of honest taxpayers when others make bogus claims,” she added.
As well as the above excuses, HMRC also receive some ‘dubious’ expenses claims including: a carpenter claiming £900 for a 55-inch TV and sound bar to help him price his jobs; £756 for my pet dog insurance and a family holiday to Nigeria.*
All the above excuses and expenses were unsuccessful in their appeals against HMRC.
Here at Ellis & Co we will prepare your self-assessment tax return for you and submit it promptly, so you won’t need to ‘make up’ any excuses.
For further information about tax returns or any other tax matter contact Ellis & Co on 01244 343504.
*www.gov.uk