HMRC scam warning ahead of self-assessment tax deadline next week
HMRC has urged Brits who still need to file their self-assessment tax return to be aware of scammers ahead of an upcoming deadline.
You need to file your self-assessment for the 2022/23 tax year by 11.59pm on January 31 - if you miss this, you'll be fined £100. After three months, you’ll be charged additional fines of £10 a day, up to a maximum of £900, if you still haven’t filed.
After six months, you'll get a further penalty of 5% of the tax owed or £300, whichever is greater, and this is again repeated at 12 months. The cut-off for paying any tax owed is also on January 31 - and again you'll be charged penalties if you pay your tax bill late. You will be charged 5% of the tax owed at 30 days, then again at six months and 12 months. Interest will also be applied.
In a previous warning, HMRC has urged self-assessment taxpayers to be aware of scammers ahead of the deadline next week. HMRC received more than 130,000 reports about tax scams in the 12 months to September 2023, of which 58,000 were offering fake tax rebates.
The types of scams reported to HMRC include offering fake tax rebates, telling customers they need to update their tax details or threatening arrest for tax evasion. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC Director General for Customer Services, said: “HMRC is reminding customers to be wary of approaches by fraudsters in the run up to the Self Assessment deadline.
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“Criminals are great pretenders who try and dupe people by sending emails, phone calls and texts which mimic government messages to make them appear authentic. Unexpected contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”
You can report any suspicious communications to HMRC:
- Forward dodgy texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599
- Forward emails to [email protected]
- Report tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK
Do I need to submit a self-assessment tax return?
You normally need to file a self-assessment tax return if you're self-employed and your income hasn't had tax automatically deducted, or if you've earned extra cash outside of your normal employment that has not been taxed. According to MoneyHelper.org.uk, you will need to file a self-assessment tax return if:
Your self-employment income was more than £1,000 (before taking off anything you can claim tax relief on)
Your income from renting out property was more than £2,500 (you’ll need to contact HMRC if it was between £1,000 and £2,500)
You earned more than £2,500 in untaxed income, for example from tips or commission
Your income from savings or investments was £10,000 or more before tax
You need to pay Capital Gains Tax on profits from selling things like shares or a second home
You’re a director of a company (unless it was a non-profit organisation, such as a charity)
You, or your partner’s, income was over £50,000 and you’re claiming Child Benefit
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You have income from abroad that you need to pay tax on, or you live abroad but have an income in the UK
Your taxable income was over £100,000
If you earn over £50,000 in the 2021/22 tax year and make pension contributions you might have to complete an assessment to claim back the extra tax relief you’re owed
You’re a trustee of a trust or registered pension scheme
Your State Pension was your only source of income and was more than your personal allowance
You received a P800 from HMRC saying you didn’t pay enough tax last year.
You can also check online through the HMRC website to see if you need to send a tax return.
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