Yes it is true!  H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has extended the tax dead line for the fiscal year ended 5 April 2011 by two days, from 31 January 2012 to 02 February 2012.

This is great news for those last minute individuals who are panicking that they may not get their information submitted in time, or for those who have requested online authorisation with only 7 days to spare! 

More than twenty thousand tax officers who are members of the Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS) are taking part in strikes as of 26 January 2012 through to 31 January 2012, namely – “lightening” walk-outs.

This means that should you require telephone assistance to submit your Self Assessment Tax Return (SA100) on line during the 26 January 2012 to the 31 January 2012 there will be minimal assistance available to you. 

The strike was put in place by PCS and its members when they learnt of HMRC intentions to outsource call handling and IT services to private companies saving HMRC at least £1bn although in turn putting many more jobs at risk.

HMRC have also announced that fifteen more offices around the UK could close during 2014/15 following the closure of more than 200 offices in the last three years!  PCS warns that “the closure of more tax offices will further damage our slumping economy”.

Statistics show that there are still more than two million individuals required to submit their tax returns online.  If you are one of those individuals, get on line as soon as possible to submit your tax return and be aware that although the two day extension is in place, the phone lines to HMRC during the 1st and 2nd of February 2012 will undoubtedly be inundated with calls.  

All tax returns submitted after the 2 February 2012 will incur penalty’s and fines even if there is no tax payable for the year.

Does the tax deadline extension effect you or your business?