HM Revenue and Customs have
released their latest list of the 10 worst excuses people have given for filing
or paying their tax return late (yes, seriously):
1.
My pet dog ate my tax
return…and all the reminders
2.
I was up a mountain in
Wales, and couldn’t find a post box or get an internet signal
3.
I fell in with the wrong
crowd
4.
I’ve been travelling the
world, trying to escape from a foreign intelligence agency
5.
Barack Obama is in charge
of my finances
6.
I’ve been busy looking
after a flock of escaped parrots and some fox cubs
7.
A work colleague borrowed
my tax return, to photocopy it, and didn’t give it back
8.
I live in a camper van in a
supermarket car park
9.
My girlfriend’s pregnant
10. I was in Australia
Whilst it is possible to appeal the late filing
penalty that HMRC will automatically levy for filing or paying late, unsurprisingly,
none of the above led to a successful appeal.
Given the above exactly what does count as a ‘reasonable excuse’?
A “good” reason for
consideration has to be something unexpected or outside of your control.
For example, if your
partner died shortly before the tax return or payment deadline, or if you had
an unexpected health issue resulting in a stay in hospital that prevented you
from dealing with your tax affairs, it is likely that this would be considered.
Excuses such as bounced
payments, a general lack of funds, difficulty using the HMRC online system or
the lack of a reminder letter would not be allowed as reasonable excuses.
Clearly, the best way of
avoiding a late filing penalty is to submit your tax return, and pay any tax
due, by the 31 January. No surprises, really.
If you need assistance with
your tax return, give Omni Chartered Accountants a call now on 01902 837 408 or
contact us.
