HMRC has reported over 2,700 self-assessment tax returns were filed on Christmas Day, just weeks before the deadline on 31 January 2021.
Around 31,400 tax returns have been completed for 2019/20 between 24 and 26 December, with 20,200 filed on Christmas Eve. In the peak hour, between 11:00 to 11:59 on Christmas Eve, 2,892 returns were received. A further 8,500 taxpayers filed on Boxing Day.
In the same period last year, Christmas Eve saw 22,000 tax returns filed, compared with 3,000 on Christmas Day and 9,200 on Boxing Day.
Once taxpayers are made aware of how much tax is owed, HMRC has offered a payment plan to help spread tax liability costs, up to the value of £30,000.
Taxpayers also have the option to use the Time to Pay initiative to set up monthly direct debits online, with interest being added to any outstanding payments from 1 February 2020.
