HMRC can issue penalties running into hundreds of pounds if you don’t send a self-assessment tax return on time – but not everyone needs to file a return
Householders are being warned about a HMRC tax deadline(Image: Vetta/ Getty Images)
People are being warned they could end up with a hefty fine from HMRC if they don’t file their tax return on time. An important deadline is coming in January, which means just weeks are left for some to complete this task.
The alert is for self-assessment tax customers who usually file an online return. The deadline to submit your online tax return is January 31, 2026.
Those who miss the date risk a fine of £100 if their tax return is up to three months late. You also face further fines of £10 a day after three months, up to a maximum of £900. ChronicleLive has previously reported on the tax fine warning.
HMRC says on its website: “You must submit your online tax return by 11:59pm on 31 January 2026 or you’ll get a late filing penalty.” However, not everyone needs to submit a self-assessment tax return. More details about who needs to do this are outlined below.
Who must send a self-assessment tax return
You must send a tax return if, in the last tax year (6 April to 5 April), any of the following applied:
- you were self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earned more than £1,000 (before taking off anything you can claim tax relief on)
- you were a partner in a business partnership
- you had to pay Capital Gains Tax when you sold or ‘disposed of’ something that increased in value
- you had to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge and do not pay it through PAYE
You may also need to send a tax return if you have any untaxed income, such as:
- money from renting out a property
- tips and commission
- income from savings, investments and dividends
- foreign income
If you are not sure whether you need to send a tax return, you can check here. The HMRC website has full details of what a self-assessment tax return is and what you need to do.
How much you can be fined
You’ll get a penalty if you need to complete a tax return and you send your return late. You’ll get the following late filing penalties:
- an initial £100 penalty
- after 3 months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900
- after 6 months, a further penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater
- after 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater
If you are struggling to understand any of your tax affairs, you can get help in a number of ways. More information about the support you can get is available here.
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