Phone lines stay open as tax return deadline looms12 hours agoShareSaveKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentShareSaveGetty ImagesPhone lines are being opened and webchat services extended by the UK's tax authority on the final day before the self-assessment deadline.Millions of people who are self-employed or have more than one source of income are required to file a 2024-25 tax return online by the end of January.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has scaled up Saturday support for those leaving it to the last minute. Some 1.1 million people missed the cut-off a year ago.Previous excuses for failing to file have included being up a mountain or yachting around the world. Reasonable excuses for avoiding fines include serious illness or a close family bereavement.Anyone who fails to complete a required return by the end of Saturday faces an automatic 100 fine and the possibility of further penalties.More than 10 million people have already filed the latest tax return, according to HMRC, but thousands always leave it to the final day.The tax authority said digital services were the fastest way to access support on Saturday. A webchat was being extended to 10 times its usual Saturday capacity, with the digital assistant service running all day as normal.The telephone helpline, usually closed on weekends, is open from 09:00 GMT to 16:00 GMT for those who need to speak to someone about self assessment. HMRC has faced sharp criticism in the past for the time it takes to answer phone
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