Late filing and late payment penalties
What to expect if you file or pay late.
Penalties if you miss the Tax Return deadline
If you miss the deadline, the longer you delay, the more you will have to pay. So it is important to send your Tax Return to H.M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as soon as you can.
If, for example, you send your Tax Return back six months late, you will be asked to pay the first three penalties shown in the table below.
All of the penalties shown in the table below will be charged, even if you have no tax to pay or have paid the tax you owe.
Not sure if you have missed a deadline? To ensure your peace of mind, get in touch to discuss this or any other points on penalties
Penalties for sending your Tax Return late
| Length of delay | Penalty you will be asked to pay |
|---|---|
| 1 day | Initial £100 |
| > 3 months | Plus £10 each day, up to a maximum of £900 |
| > 6 months | Plus £300 or 5% of the tax due, whichever is higher |
| > 12 months | Plus £300 or 5% of the tax due, whichever is higher In serious cases you may be asked to pay up to 100% of the tax due instead |
The deadlines and penalties above also apply to each partner in a partnership.
Interest and penalties if you don’t pay on time
If you miss the deadline, the longer you delay, the more you will have to pay. So it is important to still send your payment to HMRC as soon as you can.
If, for example, you pay more than six months late, you will be asked to pay the first two penalties shown in the table below.
Penalties for paying late
| Length of delay | Penalty you will be asked to pay |
|---|---|
| 30 days | 5% of the tax unpaid at that date |
| 6 months | Plus 5% of the tax unpaid at that date |
| 12 months | Plus 5% of the tax unpaid at that date In serious cases you may be asked to pay up to 100% of the tax due instead |
Interest charges if you pay late
You will have to pay interest on all outstanding amounts, including any unpaid penalties, until payment is received.
