Late with your tax return? HMRC have heard them all

With the 31 January tax return deadline looming, HMRC has revealed their ‘Top 10 oddest excuses’ for sending in a late return.

  • My pet goldfish died (self-employed builder)
  • I had a run-in with a cow (Midlands farmer)
  • After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else (London woman)
  • My wife won’t give me my mail (self-employed trader)
  • My husband told me the deadline was 31 March, and I believed him (Leicester hairdresser)
  • I’ve been far too busy touring the country with my one-man play (Coventry writer)
  • My bad back means I can’t go upstairs. That’s where my tax return is (a working taxi driver)
  • I’ve been cruising round the world in my yacht, and only picking up post when I’m on dry land (South East man)
  • Our business doesn’t really do anything (Kent financial services firm)
  • I’ve been too busy submitting my clients’ tax returns (London accountant)

HMRC’s Director General of Personal Tax, Ruth Owen, said:

    “There will always be unforeseen events that mean a taxpayer could not file their tax return on time. However, your pet goldfish passing away isn’t one of them. If you haven’t yet sent your tax return to HMRC, you need to do it online and pay the tax you owe by the end of January. With all the help and advice available, there’s no excuse not to.”