Goldfish, Cow and Volcano Excuses Dismissed By HMRC

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March 19th 2024
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Goldfish, Cow and Volcano Excuses Dismissed By HMRC

Now that less than four weeks remain for the tax return deadline, HMRC reveal some poor excuses for lateness from last year.

You have to have a good reason to miss the tax return filing deadline (31st January) otherwise an automatic £100 penalty is charged with further fines until the return is filed and any tax paid.

Some people do however give a good shot at having that penalty removed and HMRC has today published their top 10 list of bad excuses.

  • 1. Death of a Goldfish

    A self employed builder used this excuse when appealing against the £100 penalty and it was promptly dismissed.

  • 2. Cow fight

    A farmer in the Midlands was prevented from filing a tax return by a cow.

  • 3. Volcanic brain ash

    A woman in London lost all concentration after seeing a volcano spew ash on the news.

  • 4. No mail for male

    A self employed trader's wife would not give him his mail.

  • 5. It's the 31st of March, right?

    A Leicester Hairdresser consulted her husband on the (wrong) due date.

  • 6. Too busy with work to pay tax

    A Coventry based playwright was touring the country and didn't have time to file his tax return.

  • 7. Upstairs Downstairs

    Stairs prevent a taxi driver with a bad back from completing a tax return

  • 8. Cruising

    A man from the South East couldn't pick up his post as he was on a round the would yacht cruise.

  • 9. Financial 'No' Services

    A Kent based Financial Services firm didn't file a return as they "... don't really do anything ...".

  • 10. Do as I say, not as I do

    Too busy with clients' tax returns was the excuse from a London accountant.

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