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Did you forget to file your tax return?

Newcastle based accountants Robson Laidler are warning people who filed their tax returns late to be prepared for fines and to deal with them quickly before they become a bigger issue.

The latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) showed that more than 890,000 failed to return their self-assessment tax returns in time for this year’s online deadline of 31 January 2015.

These people will soon be receiving a £100 late filing penalty. But the fines do not stop there and failing to file your tax return in the coming months could lead to bigger penalties further down the line.

If your return is more than three months late you will be automatically charged daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900.

If you leave it longer and a return is not filed within six months an additional penalty of £300 or 5 per cent of the tax due for the tax year is applied, depending whichever is greater. This adds up to a total of at least £1,300 due, even if it is discovered that you do not owe any tax at all.

A similar fine will be issued again if the return is not filed within 12 months, however, at this point HMRC can regard a case as being more serious and a higher penalty of up to 100 per cent of the tax due can be issued.

Martin Wardle, from Robson Laidler, is warning people who have not filed their self-assessment to do so now to avoid further penalties in the future.

“Failing to file your tax return on time can have large implications for you and your business,” said Martin.

“Not only is there an immediate fine of £100 to pay, but there is also the prospect of larger fines further down the line. Now is the time to act, don’t leave it any later and run the risk of accumulating fines that could damage you or your business.”

Martin added that he recognised the pressures that running a business can have on an individual’s life; making tax returns a low priority.

Robson Laidler is calling on those still with outstanding tax returns to seek help to make sure further penalties are avoided.

For further details please contact Robson Laidler on 0191 281 8191.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robson Laidler LLP .