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HMRC have been late issuing self-assessment statements to around 500,000 taxpayers this summer.
In explanatory letter sent to agents, HMRC said:
‘Due to a higher than anticipated number of SA statements to be issued this year, we will not be able to issue paper self-assessment tax statements to all customers [sic] during the normal July period for issue. The majority will have been sent on time.
‘No one needs to worry about this and we will be sending out the statements to remaining customers [sic] soon. People will have 30 days from receipt of the statement to pay. As long as they do that, no interest will follow.
‘Online customers [sic] will be able to check what’s due over the internet and pay via the internet, too.’
On further enquiry, HMRC told Taxation there had been a four-fold increase in the number of statements due and the department was trying to find out why this has happened. The suggestion that the taxman had run out of paper to send the statements was not denied.
A Revenue spokesperson added, ‘This in no way prevents the accurate payment of tax and no one will be out of pocket as a result. Account information can be viewed online so it isn’t necessary to wait for a paper statement. We very much regret any inconvenience and will send paper statements to everyone who should have one as soon as possible.’
The department confirmed that taxpayers will have 30 days to make the payment due from the date of receipt of the statement without the threat of interest being charged.
Susan Gompels, a sole practitioner with clients affected by the delay, said she tells clients what their January and July tax payments will be when their last tax form is completed, and sends reminders in December and June, to ensure timely settlement.
She did this in June accessing the HMRC website for confirmation, noting that she still has to go into each client separately because client data cannot be listed, despite agents’ pleas over many years.
The delay in HMRC sending statements causes confusion for clients, added Ms Gompels, ‘where some receive the statement, while for others I receive them (in error, not by request), and for others nothing arrives at all’.
