HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a crucial alert to households across the United Kingdom as the countdown to the Self Assessment tax deadline enters its final stretch.
The Clock is Ticking: HMRC's Urgent Call to Action
With less than two months remaining until the 31 January 2026 cutoff, the tax authority is pressing millions of taxpayers to submit their returns without delay. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, delivered a clear message: “For customers yet to file, there’s still time to start and submit an accurate tax return.”
She strongly advised against procrastination, stating, “Don’t leave something as important as your tax return to the last minute. Go to GOV.UK to start today.” The official portal, GOV.UK, is ready for customers to complete their return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
Are You an Early Bird or a Last-Minute Panicker?
In a novel move, HMRC has launched an online poll to engage with the public about their filing habits. The poll, running for seven days on HMRC’s official X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook channels, asks taxpayers to identify their approach.
The categories are:
- The Early Bird: Those who file within days of the new tax year starting.
- The Dipper: Individuals who work on their return intermittently throughout the year.
- The Last Minute Panicker: Taxpayers who rush to submit in the final hours of 31 January.
HMRC's data reveals distinct filing patterns. For the previous tax year, more than 11.5 million taxpayers met the deadline on time. Impressively, 58,000 early birds submitted their returns on 6 April 2025 – the very first day it was possible.
Regional Success and the Benefits of Filing Early
Last year, the West Midlands alone saw 846,517 Self Assessment customers file successfully before the deadline. HMRC emphasises that starting the process early offers significant advantages.
Filing your return ahead of time does not mean you have to pay your tax bill immediately. Instead, it provides valuable breathing space to plan how to settle the amount owed before the payment deadline. Furthermore, beginning early allows taxpayers to utilise the full range of online help resources at their own pace.
Once started, you can save your progress and return to it as many times as needed, ensuring all details are accurate before final submission. This method is far less stressful than a frantic last-minute rush, which increases the risk of errors.
With the deadline firmly in sight, HMRC's warning serves as a timely nudge for all remaining filers. The message is clear: use the time that remains wisely and avoid the January panic.
