The number of taxpayers discovering the benefits of submitting their personal income tax returns online continues to grow.
With less than one month to go until the October 6 deadline for returns for the 2016/17 tax year, almost 11,000 have so far been submitted online, representing 35 per cent of all returns received to date.
At this time last year over 9,200 returns had been submitted online or 30 per cent of the total received by that stage.
Taxpayers will be charged a £100 penalty if their personal tax return has not been received by October 6 and a further £200 if the return remains outstanding.
Gerard Higgins, Business Solutions Group Manager with the Treasury’s Income Tax Division, said:
‘It is highly encouraging to see the continuing increase in the number of people using the faster simpler route of submitting their tax return online including speedier processing of any refunds that may be due’.
Mr Higgins added:
‘As the 6 October deadline for submitting 2016/17 personal tax returns is now less than one month away the Income Tax Division would like to actively encourage everyone to do so using this fast and convenient method and to highlight that registration for new users has never been easier.’
The enrolment process to enable immediate submission of their return online can be completed by calling 685400 (option 2) during normal office hours.
There are numerous benefits that the Online Tax Service provides including:
- Personal details, employment and state benefit information which are often pre-completed; even on first registration and without the need to provide supporting evidence
- Calculation of your tax liability so that you know immediately if your tax account is in credit or debit
- Faster processing and any refunds can be sent directly to your bank account
If the Income Tax Division has not received personal tax returns for the year ended 5 April 2017 by 6 October 2017, taxpayers will be charged a £100 penalty. If the return has still not been received by the Division by 6 April 2018, a further £200 penalty will be charged. Even if the penalties are paid, the return must still be submitted and people may be prosecuted for failing to do so.
Online Government Services can also be used to pay road tax, rates bills and to make electricity payments.
