Best tax return filing rates
HMRC has released an interesting analysis showing that men are more likely than women to send in their tax return on time. The statistics were compiled by analysing the filing of 2014-15 tax returns up to the end of April 2016. The paper return for that tax year was due to be filed by 31 October 2015 and the online deadline was 31 January 2016.
As well as analysing filings by gender, HMRC also examined filing based on age ranges. It found that taxpayers aged 18-20 were the worst offenders whilst those aged 65 were the best.
The analysis also looked at filings by industry and geographical location. Those working in the agriculture, fishing and forestry are best at getting tax information in on time, with just 62 in every 10,000 filing late returns whilst lawyers and accountants grabbed second and third spots. Workers in the Administrative and Support Services sectors fared worst. Across the UK, taxpayers in Northern Ireland kept their top spot as the most likely geographical region to submit their tax return on time.
HMRC Director General of Customer Service, Ruth Owen, said:
‘It’s very encouraging to see that in every aspect of our analysis we saw huge reductions in the number of tax returns being sent in late last year. Our customers are obviously becoming more punctual, but we won’t be happy until we’re at zero.
The deadline is now less than three weeks away, if you still need to complete a return our advice is don’t leave it until it’s too late. Our online service has lots of helpful advice and handy tips to help make submitting your tax return as easy and stress free as possible.’
If you are a man over 65 working in the fishing industry and based in Northern Ireland you have probably already filed your return! Everyone else needs to ensure that they do so by the end of the month.