South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon has warned that the deadline for Self-Assessment taxpayers to file their returns is too long, after a new report has found that 1.1 million returns were overdue last year, and newspapers have claimed that one in 10 taxpayers are expected to have missed the 31 January 2006 deadline.

Mr Bacon was speaking as the Commons public accounts committee published their report on Income Tax Self-Assessment.  The report states that, at 10 months, the United Kingdom has the most generous filing return dates compared to any country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  Taxpayers in member countries such as France, Ireland and the Netherlands generally have around three to four months to file their returns.

Mr Bacon, a member of the committee, said today: "The 10 month filing deadline is far too lengthy and is not working.  Self-Assessment taxpayers receive their returns in April but must wait for P60 forms and other financial information to be released before their return can be completed.  This enforced delay means returns can be lost or forgotten, leading to a last-minute rush that gets worse every year". 

"It would be far better for all concerned if the returns were sent out in May with a shorter deadline.  This would mean that Self-Assessment taxpayers could complete their returns sooner, rather than having to wait and risk forgetting about it until the last minute.  I hope to see HM Revenue and Customs moving in this direction soon".

7 February 2006

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See also:
PAC REPORT: Filing of income tax self assessment returns