Copyright dailyrecord
People are being urged to act ahead of a crucial tax return deadline this week to avoid being fined by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the free advice service taxadvice.scot, is reminding those filing a paper version of their self-assessment tax return that the form must reach HMRC before midnight on October 31. Late-filed returns incur an automatic £100 fine from HMRC , regardless of whether any tax is owed. Longer delays face increased penalties, with daily fines and interest charges added for persistent lateness. This deadline applies to the 2024/25 tax year, which covers income earned between April 6, 2024, and April 5, 2025. The cut-off date is set by HMRC to allow it to process the paper forms ahead of the online tax return deadline, which falls at the end of January 2026. People who would like help or advice on filling in their paper return ahead of the deadline can speak to an adviser at taxadvice.scot by calling 0800 756 3381. The service, which launched last year, is backed by HMRC and is designed to help individuals and businesses in Scotland understand their tax obligations. The reminder comes after recently published figures showed that fines for late tax returns cost Scots around £5.5 million a year. HMRC figures for 2022/23, the most recent year available, indicate that 20,000 people were hit with an automatic £100 penalty for missing the deadline by just one day. For 8,000 people, fines increased after three months by £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900. Penalties escalated for those who delayed submitting for longer, and by a year after the deadline, 2,000 people still had not filed their return – incurring a minimum £600 additional fine. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “For those who still fill out a paper tax return, it’s important not to miss this key end-of-October deadline set by HMRC. If you do, you risk incurring a fine on top of any tax that you might owe from the 2024/25 tax year. “The deadline for paper returns is several months earlier than the cut-off date for the online version, so we want to help people get their returns in on time and avoid unnecessary fines. “The good news is that our service, taxadvice.scot, is there to help people in Scotland navigate the complexities of the UK tax system. “Our expert advisers can help people struggling to fill in their self-assessment forms or who have any other queries about their tax obligations, completely free of charge. Anyone who is confused should know that calling HMRC isn’t their only option.” Staff at taxadvice.scot can answer questions on a wide range of areas, from self-assessment forms to PAYE and National Insurance queries. They can also offer guidance on tax related to pensions, inheritance, capital gains, and marriage allowance, as well as help with claiming child benefit and tax credits. Customers can also receive support in claiming tax refunds and managing any tax-related debts. Scottish businesses can also benefit from the service, with advice on VAT registration, corporation tax, and compliance issues. HMRC has a wide range of resources online including a series of video tutorials on YouTube , help and support on GOV.UK, to support customers in completing their tax return. The penalties for late tax returns are: There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5 per cent of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. If tax remains unpaid after the deadline, interest will also be charged on the amount owed, in addition to the penalties above. pic Taxpayers may need to complete a tax return, even if they pay taxes through PAYE, for example, if they: If someone regularly sells goods or provides services through an online platform, they may need to pay tax on their income. People can find out more about selling online and paying taxes on GOV.UK by searching ‘online platform income’ or by downloading the HMRC app. The guidance will help them decide if their activity should be treated as a trade and if they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.
