Last minute self assessment filers could be hit by tax office strike!

For those small business people who like to hand in their self assessment tax returns at the very last minute, it has been announced that The Public and Commercial Services Union intends to take industrial action this Wednesday - 31st January (the filing deadline).

Here is the notice published on the HMRC News site:

"The Public and Commercial Services Union has announced that it will stage a national strike on 31 January,

We will do everything we can to maintain our services to the public and business. Our advice to self assessment taxpayers is the same as it is every year - file early before the 31 January deadline and make payment online if possible.

Paper returns can be delivered to any HMRC office and we will do all we can to open our Enquiry Centres to receive returns. A taxpayer or their agent who finds it impossible to file by 31 Jan due to the industrial action should file as soon as possible on the following day.

On-line services will not be affected."

You can also read advice (and commentary) on the impact of the proposed industrial action from the ICAEW.