As we predicted earlier this month, the HMRC computer system yesterday failed under the weight of traffic from those seeking to return their self assessment tax returns. This year, because of the nature of the failure the HMRC have taken the decision to extend the submission dead line by 24hrs until midnight tonight 01st February. This extension will also apply to paper returns.

Whilst this might help this year the likelihood is that we shall see the same problems next year. The reason for this is that from the next tax year onwards many more people will be forced to submit their self assessment returns on line as the HMRC are bringing forward the deadline for paper returns to 31st October.