News
Thousands submit their self-assessment tax returns on Christmas Day
More than 4,600 self-assessment taxpayers chose Christmas Day as the ideal time to submit their online tax returns for the 2024-25 tax year.
Last updated 6 Jan 2026 | First published 2 Jan 2024
By Fraser McKay, MCIPR (Accredited) 2 min read
Self-Assessment Tax Returns
With thousands opting to give themselves the gift of tax reporting efficiency either side of tucking into their Christmas dinners, it demonstrates the growing urgency for taxpayers to get their 2024-25 affairs in order.
According to official data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), 37,435 people submitted their self-assessment tax returns on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and a further 54,053 on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
HMRC's statistics show that over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day:
- 22,350 filed on Christmas Eve. The most popular time was between 11am to 11:59am, when 3,159 filed their tax return.
- 4,606 tax returns filed on Christmas Day. 1pm to 1:59pm was the most popular time to file on Christmas Day, with 359 filing their return.
- 10,479 taxpayers chose to file their tax return on Boxing Day, with the most popular time being 3pm to 3:59pm and 946 filing during that time.
- 34,270 filed their tax return on New Year's Eve, the most popular time being 11am to 11:59am when 3,927 were sbmitted,
- 19,789 filed their tax return on New Year's Day.
The deadline for 2024-25 online tax returns is fast approaching on 31st January, with anyone missing the boat set to face an automatic £100 late-filing penalty.
If you are unsure whether you need to file a self-assessment tax return, please read our guide, which can be found here.
5.65 million taxpayers have not submitted their tax returns
HMRC has revealed that almost 5.65 million taxpayers have still to submit their 2024-25 self-assessment tax returns.
Those who leave it too late to submit and pay their returns may incur financial penalties if they don’t have a reasonable excuse for missing the deadline.
Anyone three months late will be hit with £10 daily fines, up to a maximum of £900. Tax returns six months overdue will result in taxpayers facing another penalty worth 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater. The same fine is issued to anyone with a tax return that’s 12 months late.
The sooner you submit your self-assessment tax return and calculate how much tax you need to pay, the sooner you can get clarity over your financial position.
HMRC may even be able to assist with a Time to Pay payment plan, open to taxpayers owing less than £30,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
An allowable expense is an expense that is directly related to the running of your business. For example goods that you buy for resale, employees' payment, rent and bills for your business premises, interest payments for money you borrowed to finance your business.
You can file a Form 11 tax return yourself with Revenue online using Revenue Online Services (ROS) or you can engage an accountant to file on your behalf.
Self-employed individuals, partners in business partnerships and landlords may be required to file a tax return. Those in receipt of child benefit and earning over £60,000 and those earning more than £10,000 in savings and investment income will need to complete a tax return too. For a comprehensive list check HMRC’s content on who must send a tax return.
Last updated 6 Jan 2026 | First published 2 Jan 2024
Fraser McKay, MCIPR (Accredited)
Fraser is a highly experienced journalist and Accredited PR Professional and joined TaxAssist in 2016. He writes articles covering a wide range of topics relating to small businesses and accounting. In addition, Fraser provides communications training to the network, as well as looking after TaxAssist Accountants' national and local social media channels.
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