HMRC shares urgent advice to anyone who has missed tax deadline

Personal Finance
4 Feb 2026 • 12:09 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Around one million individuals are facing a £100 penalty, with potential for additional charges, after missing the 31 January self-assessment tax deadline.
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirmed that 11,489,825 returns were submitted by the cut-off date, though approximately one million taxpayers failed to meet it.
  • Many taxpayers left filing until the last day, with 475,722 submissions on 31 January, including 27,456 in the final hour before the deadline.
  • HMRC advises anyone who missed the deadline to file their return as soon as possible to minimise further penalties and late payment interest.
  • Individuals may be able to avoid a penalty if they have a reasonable excuse for filing late, and payment plans are available for those unable to pay their tax bill in full.

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