Self-Assessment Tax Return Filing Deadline
The deadline for the filing a self-assessment tax return is 31 January following the end of the tax year.
What is a tax year in the UK?
In the UK, the tax year is a period of 12 months, which starts on 6 April and ends on the following 5 April. Individuals who are required to file their tax returns file their returns for such a period.
For example, the period from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024 is a tax year in the UK. This is also referred to as tax year 2023/24. Individuals in the UK are required to file their tax returns, also called self-assessment tax returns or personal tax returns, for the tax year period.
Here are a few more examples:
- The period starting 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021 is tax year 2020/21
- The period starting 6 April 2021 to 5 April 2022 is tax year 2021/22
- The period starting 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 is tax year 2022/23
Self Assessment Tax Return Filing Deadline
There are two separate dates for filing a self-assessment tax return: paper tax return or electronic/online tax return.
When a taxpayer completes a paper tax return, it should be filed with HMRC by 31 October following the end of the tax year.
Here are a few examples:
- The period from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021 is tax year 2020/21 and if the taxpayer wants to submit a paper tax return, it should be filed by 31 October 2021.
- The period from 6 April 2021 to 5 April 2022 is the tax year 2021/22, and if the taxpayer wants to submit a paper tax return, it should be filed by 31 October 2022.
- The period from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 is the tax year 2022/23, and if the taxpayer wants to submit a paper tax return, it should be filed by 31 October 2022.
When a taxpayer completes an online tax return, it should be filed with HMRC by 31 January following the end of the tax year.
Here are a few examples:
- The period from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021 is tax year 2020/21, and if the taxpayer wants to submit an online tax return, it should be filed by 31 January 2022.
- The period from 6 April 2021 to 5 April 2022 is the tax year 2021/22, and if the taxpayer wants to submit an online tax return, it should be filed by 31 January 2023.
- The period from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 is the tax year 2022/23, and if the taxpayer wants to submit an online tax return, it should be filed by 31 January 2024.
However, if the notice to file a tax return is issued after 31 October, the deadline to file a tax return, whether a paper or an online return, would be three months from issue of the notice.
Please see below a few examples:
- The period from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021 is tax year 2020/21, and if the notice to file a tax return is issued by HMRC on 10/11/2021, the deadline to file the tax return, whether on paper or online would be three months from the date of the issue of the notice, which would be 10/02/2022.
- The period from 6 April 2021 to 5 April 2022 is the tax year 2021/22, and if the notice to file a tax return is issued by HMRC on 1/12/2022, the deadline to file the tax return, whether on paper or online would be three months from the date of the issue of the notice, which would be
- The period from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 is the tax year 2022/23, and if the notice to file a tax return is issued by HMRC on 15/11/2023, the deadline to file the tax return, whether on paper or online would be three months from the date of the issue of the notice, which would be 15/02/2024.
Penalties for the late filing of Self Assessment Tax Return
A fixed penalty of £100 would be payable if the tax return is not submitted by the filing deadline.
The additional penalties of £10 per day (up to a maximum of 90 days) will be payable if the tax return is late for more than three months.
If the tax return is late by more than six months, there will be an additional penalty of 5% of any liability to tax, which would have been shown in the return, or £300, if greater.
An additional penalty of 5% of any liability to tax (or £300 if greater) will also be payable if the return is late for more than 12 months.
Here is a summary:
Initial penalty for late filing – £100
Return late > 3 months – Daily penalty of £10, up to a maximum of 90 days
Return late > 6 months – 5% of the liability to tax (or £300 if greater)
Return late > 12 months – 5% of liability to tax (or £300 if greater)
