As the deadline for filing self-assessment tax returns approaches, staff at HM Revenue & Customs call centres are preparing to take part in strike action. It is believed that up to 7000 employees will go on strike on the 31st January 2012. If taxpayers are unable to contact HMRC by phone on that day, preventing them filing their tax return, the automatic £100 penalty will be waived.
Around nine million UK taxpayers are expected to complete a self-assessment tax return, and HMRC has received about five million so far. Most taxpayers will complete and submit their tax returns online over the coming week, but around 600,000 are expected to file on the 31st January. With 90,000 of those taxpayers expected to try and contact HMRC on that day and only 20 percent of contact centre staff due to turn up for work, taxpayers may experience difficulties.
According to HMRC, if a taxpayer is unable to file their self-assessment tax return that day as a result of the strike action, they won’t be charged the £100 penalty. Taxpayers affected by the strike should write to HMRC explaining that they couldn’t get through to the contact centre, preventing submission of their tax return.
Sole traders and partnerships which outsource to a low cost accountants won’t have to worry about unexpected penalties or filing tax returns on the 31st January, as their accountant will have filed the tax return and related documentation in a timely manner.
