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Posted: Fri 27th Dec 2024
More than 4,000 individuals submitted their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
A total of 4,409 people sent their tax update to the government on 25 December, ahead of the annual 31 January deadline.
Between 3pm and 3.59pm was the most popular time to file on Christmas Day, with 368 people doing so.
Boxing Day wasn't just about leftover turkey for 11,932 taxpayers who sent their tax return that day too, while 23,731 people submitted it on Christmas Eve.
HMRC's Myrtle Lloyd said:
"People who need to file a Self Assessment return and already have can enjoy the rest of the festive period knowing they've got it wrapped up for another year.
"For those who haven't started yet, our online service is available 365 days a year so there's still a chance to get it done before 2024 is out! Go to GOV.UK and search 'Self Assessment' to access the online help and start today."
You may need to submit a Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax owed by 31 January 2025 if you:
are self-employed and have earned gross income over £1,000
earned below £1,000 and wish to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits
are a partner in a business partnership
have received any untaxed income over £2,500
receive child benefit payments and need to pay the high income child benefit charge because you or your partner earned more than £50,000
HMRC also reminded anyone who regularly sells goods or provides a service through an online platform, such as Amazon, Etsy, Airbnb and eBay, to check whether they need to send a tax return.
31 January is the first deadline for online marketplaces to report to HMRC information such as certain sellers' bank account details and the value of transactions as part of new global rules aimed at tackling tax avoidance.
In another reminder, HMRC warned taxpayers to be wary of criminals sending fake Self Assessment emails, phone calls and texts in an attempt to steal money.
Last month, the tax department revealed it received 144,298 scam reports between November 2023 and October 2024, up from 123,596 in the previous 12-month period.
HMRC urged taxpayers to use its checklist for information on how to identify scams.
