Penalties for late returns and late payment of tax

• Income tax
• Corporation tax
• PAYE
• CIS
• VAT
• Limited company accounts

Notes

1. The fixed penalties for late self assessment returns cannot exceed the tax outstanding on the due date for the return. If all of the tax has been paid the fixed penalty is zero. This does not apply to partnership and trust returns and this 'cap' is due to be withdrawn shortly.
2. VAT default surcharge also applies when the VAT return has been submitted but the VAT remains unpaid. The penalty is calculated at the rate shown applied to the VAT outstanding. Late repayment returns still register as a default, but no penalty is due.
3. Penalties at 2% and 5% are not levied if the amount of the penalty does not exceed £400, but the default still registers and increases the potential penalty for the next default.
4. Taxpayers who file late paper return, but pay all of their tax outstanding before 31 January 2011 will have their penalty "capped" at zero.
   So a late paper return will not, accrue a penalty provided that the tax is paid by the due date. This does not apply to partnership returns.

Late payment penalties

Self Assessment

Penalties of 5% of the tax unpaid are charged one month and six months after the due date for tax payment (31 Jan) on 28 February & 31 July.

VAT

The default surcharge penalty system also applies to late payment of VAT liabilities, even if the return is filed on time.

PAYE, NIC and CIS tax

A new penalty regime commenced in 2010/11 under which late payment of PAYE, NIC and related liabilities during the tax year will attract a penalty. The first late payment in the tax year is not liable to penalties but subsequent late payments attract a penalty base on the total number of late payments in the tax year.

Tax is due by 19th of the following month or 22nd if paid electronically. Small employers can register for the quarterly payment scheme.

Limited company accounts – late filing penalties

Penalties for late filing are as follows:

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