Will You Be Filing Your Self Assessment Over Christmas Dinner?

For most, Christmas is a time to kick back and relax; enjoying great food and unwrapping gifts alongside the family. But for others, the 25th December is a rare opportunity to take irksome tasks off the…

5 Minute Read

Last Updated: 14th March 2022

For most, Christmas is a time to kick back and relax; enjoying great food and unwrapping gifts alongside the family. But for others, the 25th December is a rare opportunity to take irksome tasks off the backburner. Tasks like submitting a Self Assessment tax return.

According to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), nearly 2,000 people submitted their Self Assessment on Christmas Day in 2016. In the same year, more than 6,000 also sent in their tax returns on both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. That’s a grand total of 14,000 people who sent in their tax forms over the three big festive holiday dates.

But what does this mean for you? Should you be one of the growing number of people who are submitting their taxes over Christmas dinner?

 

Who needs to submit a Self Assessment tax return?

If you earn income outside of PAYE, you must complete a Self Assessment tax return. There are currently several ways in which to do this. Many people continue to submit their tax return by post, but you can also file through HMRC’s online portal or via tax software.   

The Self Assessment tax return deadline for online returns is 31st January. Anyone who files their submission at a later date will incur a financial penalty. HMRC can also collect any tax you owe them by removing money from your earnings or pension pot – so it’s always in your best interest to pay on time.

Why are people submitting their tax returns over Christmas?

The rise in numbers of people submitting tax returns around this time of year may be due to several influential factors.

The amount of self-employed people in the UK is growing, which in turn has resulted in more Self Assessment forms being filed overall (more than 10 million in 2016). For busy entrepreneurs, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are three days where they won’t be expected to interact with clients – presenting an ideal window to get their taxes complete. Those who do not celebrate Christmas also see the festive holiday as a handy opportunity to submit their tax forms.

However, it shouldn’t take hours of your precious time to file your Self Assessment. With the right tools, you can submit in December and enjoy a well-earned break with loved ones.

 

Submit your Self Assessment with SimpleTax

Whatever your occupation, it’s easy to meet the Self Assessment tax return deadline with top tax software.

SimpleTax allows you to submit your Self Assessment promptly in a stress-free manner, giving you the opportunity to cut back on tax spending in the process. It automatically calculates your liabilities, while helping you identify allowable expenses you might have overlooked.

Try our SimpleTax software today, completely free of charge for 14 days. The 25th December should be for family time, not paperwork. Download SimpleTax and get your Self Assessment fired off to HMRC in a matter of minutes – leaving Christmas Day completely free to enjoy.

 

References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38462245
https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill

 

Trusted by over 20,000 subscribers

You don't need to be an expert to complete your self assessment tax return.

Find Out More

Blog content is for information purposes and over time may become outdated, although we do strive to keep it current. It's written to help you understand your Tax's and is not to be relied upon as professional accounting, tax and legal advice due to differences in everyone's circumstances. For additional help please contact our support team or HMRC.

5 Excellent Reasons to Choose Us

Discover how to make tax returns a doddle...

Find out more

What is the “basis period reform” and how could it affect you?

20 Sep 2023

Heard of the “basis period reform”? Maybe you haven’t, even though much has been written about it. Admittedly, it sounds rather technical and dull,…
READ MORE >

The ultimate expat guide to paying UK tax on rental income via Self Assessment

14 Sep 2023

A reported 5.5m expat Brits live overseas, a third of them in Australia, 28% in the USA or Canada and 25% live elsewhere in…
READ MORE >

Could you turn your hobby into a successful business?

10 Aug 2023

Musical types buy and sell vinyl, write songs or make instruments. Arty types paint, take photographs or make ceramic pots. Sporty types cycle, go…
READ MORE >

How GoSimpleTax Works

01.
Register

Simply register for free with your full name and email address.

02.
Select Your Income

Select the income you receive and follow the hints and tips for potential tax savings.

03.
Validate Your Information

Validate your personal information and submit directly to HMRC to get confirmation in just seconds.

ipad

Work Anywhere, With Any Device

Gone are the days of fretting over a calculator surrounded by scraps of paper at the eleventh hour.

GoSimpleTax’s tax return software uses the information you upload in real time to calculate your income and expenditure, working out the tax you owe and sending you helpful notifications when there’s the possibility of a mistake.

Start your free trial

"The software is intuitive and proved very easy to navigate. I found the whole process refreshingly simple. I saved a lot of money too!"

Steve J.

Ordained Presbyter

"Easy to use and value for money. Everything you need to do your tax."

Gordon J.

Self Employed

"It fills in all the forms and sends them to the Inland Revenue. Not expensive either. Takes the stress out of doing your tax return online."

Ross G.

Team Rector

5 reasons to use GoSimpleTax >