A significant number of individuals chose to use the holiday period to file their tax returns with HM Revenue and Customs, data has shown.
According to the tax authority, 3,275 self assessment tax returns were filed on Christmas Day this year, an increase from last year when 2,828 were filed.
In total, 22,060 customers went online to submit their form for the 2021 to 2022 tax year over the Christmas period- from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
Boxing Day was the most popular day for returns to be filed, with 10,311 completed, compared to Christmas Eve when 8,474 people chose to do so.
While the number of tax returns filed on Christmas Day increased this year, the overall amount filed over the Christmas period dropped from last year.
In total more than 31,000 customers submitted their tax returns last year over the three day Christmas period, with 19,802 tax returns filed last Christmas Eve.
Commenting on the number of returns filed, HMRC’s director general for customer services, Myrtle Lloyd said: “We are grateful to those customers who have already filed their tax returns. For anyone who is yet to make a start, help is available on gov.uk, just search ‘Self Assessment’ to find out more.”
HMRC is urging customers to submit their tax returns on time or they may face a penalty.
The deadline to file and pay any tax owed for the 2021 to 2022 tax year is 31 January 2023.
Nimesh Shah, CEO at Blick Rothenberg, said:” People who haven't yet filed their 2021/22 tax return should use the remaining few days of the holiday period to get this done.”
He added: “Get organised now by gathering the information you need. You may need to request outstanding information from your bank, pension provider or an employer so it's sensible to get this underway as soon as you can.”
In the past two years, HMRC have extended the normal 31 January deadline by a month because of disruption due to Covid.
But Shah said "it's inconceivable there will be any similar grace period offered this year".
jane.matthews@ft.com
