HMRC issues delayed statement update

Date: 10th August 2011

Taxpayers concerned about the delays in HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) issuing of self-assessment statements have been given a definitive payment date by the department.

Earlier this month it was claimed that HMRC had failed to anticipate a rise in the number of statements it would issue and therefore there was not enough paper to print the documents.

The department has now confirmed that up to 500,000 statements, which are usually issued in July, will be received late by the intended recipients.

For those concerned about incurring a penalty as a result of the mix up, HMRC has issued an updated statement including an official deadline for payments to be received.

"You don't need to worry about this. If HMRC has asked you to make a second payment on account, you normally should have paid this by July 31st. You usually have to pay interest if you don't pay on time," a statement from HMRC explained.

"If you receive your statement in August, you should still pay the tax due as soon as you can. However you'll only be asked to pay interest on the tax due on the second payment on account if you still haven't paid it by September 27th."

Posted by Thomas Fletcher