This information is not available in the public domain. HMRC are aware that some customers who normally file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online have received a paper SA. These were sent in error, and customers who were expecting to file online should continue to do so. HMRC have written to everyone affected to apologise for the confusion and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action other than to file their return, which they can still do online, by the 31^st January 2025.

HMRC are aware that some customers who normally file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online have received a paper SA. These were sent in error, and customers who were expecting to file online should continue to do so. HMRC have written to everyone affected to apologise for the confusion and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action other than to file their return, which they can still do online, by the 31^st January 2025.

HMRC are aware that some customers who normally file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online have received a paper SA. These were sent in error, and customers who were expecting to file online should continue to do so. HMRC have written to everyone affected to apologise for the confusion and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action other than to file their return, which they can still do online, by the 31^st January 2025.

HMRC are aware that some customers who normally file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online have received a paper SA. These were sent in error, and customers who were expecting to file online should continue to do so. HMRC have written to everyone affected to apologise for the confusion and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action other than to file their return, which they can still do online, by the 31^st January 2025.

HMRC are aware that some customers who normally file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns online have received a paper SA. These were sent in error, and customers who were expecting to file online should continue to do so. HMRC have written to everyone affected to apologise for the confusion and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action other than to file their return, which they can still do online, by the 31^st January 2025.

Basis period reform is an important simplification to the tax system. The government introduced this reform in Finance Act 2022 to create a simpler, fairer, and more transparent set of rules for the allocation of self-employment and partnership income to tax years.

The reform simplifies tax computations for businesses, making it easier to complete self assessment tax returns and reducing administrative burdens. Basis period reform has no effect on the availability of accounting resources for the self-employed or partnerships.

HMRC is committed to helping all taxpayers pay their taxes and urges anyone having difficulty to make contact as soon as possible. Time to Pay arrangements are available for taxpayers who cannot afford to make full payment of their tax when it is due. Also, a Budget Payment Plan service allows Self Assessment taxpayers to make advance payments. HMRC has recently published YouTube videos on GOV.UK to help the self-employed, including one about ‘How to budget for your Self-Assessment tax bill if you’re self-employed’.

In Spring 2021 the government announced a new points-based penalty regime for regular tax return submission obligations, to replace existing penalties for VAT and Self Assessment. The new approach is fairer, with financial penalties arising only when the failure is consistent. For Self Assessment taxpayers, reformed penalties will begin when they join the Making Tax Digital (MTD) service for Self Assessment from April 2026 onwards.

HMRC has halted its planned changes to the Self Assessment, VAT and PAYE telephone helplines between April and September 2024 while it engages with stakeholders about how to ensure all taxpayers’ needs are met as the Department shifts more people to online self-service.

HMRC encourages customers to use its online services and the HMRC App where they can. These offer quicker and easier handling of most transactions and queries.

However, for those who are vulnerable, digitally excluded, or have complex tax affairs, HMRC's helpline and webchat advisers will remain available to provide the necessary support.

The HMRC Customer Protection Team is responsible for reporting known cases, requesting removal of suspicious websites, and raising awareness among the general public of how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of fraud. HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department’s civil and criminal investigations into the most serious fraud and wrongdoing. FIS ensures that HMRC has an effective approach to tackling the most serious tax evasion and fraud.

HMRC encourages customers to report scams through reporting mechanisms directly to HMRC or through Action Fraud.

The channels through which suspicious activity can be reported to HMRC are:

Suspicious emails – phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

Suspicious text – 60599

Suspicious phone calls – Report suspicious HMRC emails, text messages and phone calls - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Repayments are a feature of Income Tax Self-Assessment regime and can be generated for many reasons. HMRC continuously monitors its tax repayment systems to prevent criminal attacks on the tax system, fraud; and mitigate the risk of error and non-compliance.

HMRC provides free software that allows the vast majority of Self Assessment customers to file their returns online. Certain small groups, including UK citizens living overseas, cannot use this software. They need either to file on paper or to purchase and use commercial software in order to file their returns online. HMRC aims to make its free software available to this group in future but has no immediate plans to do so.

HMRC offers support and guidance to non-UK resident customers through its dedicated Self Assessment telephone helpline on +44 161 931 9070. More information can be found here - Self Assessment: general enquiries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

A Self Assessment tax return is currently the only means for HM Revenue and Customs to establish the correct HICBC liability.

The Government announced in July 2023 that steps will be taken to enable employed individuals to pay the HICBC through their tax code, removing the need to register for Self Assessment. This will make the process of paying the charge simpler for individuals who become liable to the charge, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to a simpler and fairer tax system.

The number and proportion of people who haven’t filed on time this year is similar to last year. This year, 11.5m customers filed their returns by close on 31st January compared to 11.4 million last year.

1.1 million customers did not file their return by the filing date and we are currently evaluating why this might be the case, although the number is similar to last year. We will be working to improve our understanding of customers who did not file on time before considering if there are opportunities to influence that group in future campaigns.

HMRC does not hold an estimate for numbers of taxpayers likely to file a Self Assessment return for the next five years. This is because over time, the size of the Self Assessment population will vary due to changes in tax legislation, operational decisions and economic factors.

Each year, following the filing deadline for Self Assessment returns, HMRC conducts analysis to forecast the likely number of Self Assessment filers in the forthcoming year and the likely impact on demand for its services. HMRC has not yet made this forecast for next year.

For taxpayers who are employees, HMRC commonly adjusts their PAYE tax code to collect extra amounts of income tax due. HMRC may also be able to use Simple Assessment to collect tax. Both methods save taxpayers from the need to complete a tax return.

The estimated number of people required to pay income tax over the next five years was published in the Office for Budget Responsibility’s November 2023 Economic and Fiscal Outlook^[1].

[1] Table 1.1, https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/Nov-2023-EFO-additional-taxpayers-by-tax-rate-band.pdf

My Lords, the Government’s decision to freeze national insurance and income tax thresholds for six years will cost taxpayers an additional £45 billion, equivalent to a 10 percentage point increase in the main rate of national insurance. This fiscal drag means that 4 million more people will now pay income tax. How many additional taxpayers will be required by HMRC to complete self-assessment tax returns in the next five years as a result?

My Lords, after Making Tax Digital, the HMRC expects small businesses and self-employed people to file returns and so on using approved accounting software. What consideration has HMRC given to the Horizon accounting software scandal? What steps are being taken to ensure that such software does not contain unexpected flaws?

My noble friend will be very pleased to know that I phoned HMRC on Monday and eventually managed to speak to a person. I did not tell them who I was, and I do not have very complex tax affairs. It was something very simple, but it could be done only by a real person.