Watch out for this year’s self-assessment banana-skin - The new tax self-assessment deadline is coming, warns ACCA
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ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) today reminds taxpayers that the new 31 October deadline for the paper filing of self-assessment tax returns is approaching.
The 31 October deadline replaces the previous deadlines for paper self-assessment of 31 January and 30 September. Those who have previously filed in time for the 31 January deadline particularly need to be aware, as their deadline only now exists for those who file online.
Consequently, if taxpayers who previously adhered to the 31 January deadline would like to continue paper filing, then they will now need to file their return three months earlier.
It is not all confusing though, says Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of taxation, ACCA: “This is good news for those who in the past filed their paper returns by 30 September, as they now have an additional month to file their returns and still be assured that HM Revenue & Customs will be obliged to calculate the tax for them.”
The primary reason for this change is the government’s desire to increase the number of taxpayers who complete their return online, in order to reduce the number of human errors and to decrease the amount of time required to input the manual returns. As a consequence of the government’s desire to go online, those who are happy to file their returns in this manner will be rewarded with an extended deadline - the previous paper deadline of January 31.
If self-assessment becomes a problem, professional advice is available.
A Chartered Certified Accountant can be found by looking on the ACCA website at www.accaglobal.com/publicinterest/finding.
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Notes to Editors
1. ACCA is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. We have 325,606 students and 122,426 members in 170 countries worldwide.
For further information please contact:
Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA Head of Taxation phone: +44 (0)20 7059 5976 / + 44(0)7710 707 516 e mail: chas.roy-chowdury@accaglobal.com
Andrew Swailes, ACCA Newsroom phone: +44 (0)20 7059 5823 e mail: andrew.swailes@accaglobal.com