Nearly 65,000 Brits Pay Self Assessment Tax via HMRC App
Since April 2022, close to 65,000 taxpayers have used the HMRC app to settle their Self Assessment bills, coughing up nearly £67 million. December saw a record 14,170 customers pay through the app, the highest since its launch in February 2022.
Don’t Delay – January 31 Deadline Looms
The final date to file tax returns for the 2021-2022 fiscal year is January 31. HMRC warns: don’t leave it until the last minute. If you need help, there’s plenty online – from guides and webinars to helpful videos. Before calling HMRC during this busy period, customers are encouraged to search online first.
App Makes Paying Taxes Quick and Easy
- View your National Insurance number and Unique Taxpayer Reference
- Make payments swiftly, securely, and free of charge
- Payments take just 60 seconds
Struggling to pay in full? No worries! Since April 2022, 45,600 customers set up “Time to Pay” plans, breaking bills into manageable monthly chunks. In December alone, 10,500 agreed on plans covering over £36 million in tax.
“We want to help Self Assessment customers meet their obligations,” said Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC Director General for Customer Services. “Search ‘pay my Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to see all your payment options.”
Beware Heavy Penalties & Watch for Scams
Miss the January 31 deadline, and you’ll face harsh fines:
- £100 fixed penalty right away – even if no tax is owed
- £10 daily fines after 3 months, up to £900
- 5% of tax due or £300 (whichever is greater) after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
- Additional 5% late payment penalties at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months
HMRC may show leniency if you have a genuine excuse and alert them before the deadline. But repeat offenders and deliberate evaders will face the full force of penalties.
Stay vigilant – scams targeting HMRC customers are on the rise. For official advice on avoiding fraud, visit GOV.UK’s dedicated scams page.
