A4.552 Late filing penalties—self assessment tax returns
The late filing penalty rules under the harmonised regime (see A4.550) is set out below. These rules have effect from 6 April 2011 in relation to any return which is required to be delivered to HMRC for the tax year 2010/11 or any subsequent tax year1.
The penalties under the pre-harmonised regime for late filing of a self assessment tax return were repealed, and apply only to returns for 2009/10 and earlier years2.
Note HMRC has announced that late filing penalties will not be charged in relation to 2020/21 self assessment tax returns filed by 28 February 2022. See 'Coronavirus (COVID-19)―penalties for late filing of the 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 tax returns' below.
Forthcoming new regime
For income tax self-assessment (ITSA) taxpayers, the new penalty regime described at A4.558 and A4.559 will replace the harmonised regime described below from a date to be appointed by the Treasury via regulations. For ITSA taxpayers with business or property business turnover of more than £10,000 per year, who will be required to submit digital quarterly updates via Making Tax Digital, the new regime is expected to take effect from 6 April 2024. For all other ITSA taxpayers, it is expected to take effect from 6 April 20253.
Overview of late filing penalties for self assessment tax returns
As discussed further below, the penalties for late filing of the self assessment tax return are:
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• fixed penalty £100—automatically issued if return filed late4
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• daily penalties £10 per day for