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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

In thinking the majority of people don't do their tax reurns till January?

59 replies

Mapley · 31/01/2011 23:08

Or is it just me and everyone I know who turns procrastination into an artform?

ie:

jan 4th- 5 mins spent looking for HMRC login, followed by a spate of baking for the freezer. Very wise to stock up on scones for the year ahead obviously

jan 7th

A twenty minute flourish in my invoices folder followed by two hour mumsnet session

jan 9th

an explicable and powerful urge to urgently reorganise the bathroom storage and defrost the freezer overtakes me.

Jan 12th

A breif but intense session of writing dates on envelopes and stapling reciepts together neccessitates a complete dipilitation, eyebrow tidy and pedicure.

Etc!

Is it just me? Bet you freaks all do it by the first week in April and pay the bill immediately from your tax savings accounts? Gits.

Etc

OP posts:

Original poster

Mapley · 01/02/2011 10:19

Wow annapolly! You definately win!

Right I'm going to start this year's today!

OP posts:

2posh2post · 01/02/2011 10:28

I don't understand how people say they do it in early April. Mostly you won't by then have your interest certificates, your P11D, your annual pensions statement etc and so can't. So in early April, having got everything out and ready in a fit of enthusiasm, I put it all away again thinking I will do it in July....then get it out again in January.

I was caught out this year - I thought I was doing well finishing my return on 30 Jan (a whole 28 hours ahead of time) only to find that there is no longer the facility to pay tax due on the phone and that doing it by internet or cheque takes 3-4 days so I daresay I will get an interest charge. Ho hum, only myself to blame.

Now, this year....July for definite. Honest.

mumsgotatum · 01/02/2011 10:29

Sorry I am annoying and did mine last year after April. i just can't bear it hanging over me, just would rather get it all over with as it's all so unpleasant and boring

lenak · 01/02/2011 10:30

Our accountant says that even if you get the books done in April you should never submit the return until September at the earliest.

He noticed that the people who asked him to submit early were getting a disproportionate amount of inspections.

When he asked on of the Tax Inspectors whether he was imagining it, the inspector admitted that they view anyone who submits too early with suspicion - it is unusual so they automatically think that you must be trying to hide something.

As it is quieter earlier in the year, they also have more time on their hands.

Although our accountant will do the books early and get the tax return approved, he never submits until 31st Jan unless asked to.

mumsgotatum · 01/02/2011 10:32

I never knew that! So I will definately submit after September now....!

Chil1234 · 01/02/2011 10:33

Ever since I discovered a natty little prog called 'TaxCalc' it's made life easier and speeded up the whole tax return thing no end!! I put mine through about July typically, never get quizzed, and any rebate is in my account about three days later. Ker-ching!

Original poster

Mapley · 01/02/2011 10:34

Oooh that's interesting lenak.

Although I must admit you made me shudder at the thought of inspection. I dread to think what they'd make of my accounts

OP posts:

nymphadora · 01/02/2011 10:34

We did dh in September. I was stuck in a chair on mat leave waiting for a baby so he left me a list & I found everything.
Am debating next years already as he will pay CGT which may be better in our account but they will pay back loads of tax as he dropped tax bands.

StillSquiffy · 01/02/2011 10:36

If it's any consolation, I still haven't quite finished mine. curse and damn you HMRC for the fine that is being printed as I write this...

scaryteacher · 01/02/2011 12:14

I did ours in May/June. Got my refund in July.

Plumm · 02/02/2011 17:16

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to process a rebate?. Return done on 31 Jan (obviously!) so they've probably got a lot to wade through!

GrimmaTheNome · 02/02/2011 17:24

My DH does his in Sept because he likes doing it on paper rather than online.

I did mine in Jan but not quite at the last minute - it was the first time I'd done it online. Anyone new to it who doesn't realise about needing to get the access code by post and/or unable to find their UTR could get screwed if they left it too late.

I'd also have been scared of the system crashing or being overloaded if I'd left it till the 31st - with 25 yrs in the software industry I've been hit by sods law too often!

Ripeberry · 02/02/2011 17:30

But if you submit it and pay it on the 31st Jan, aren't you late anyway as the payment can take 3days to go through?

mistletoekisses · 02/02/2011 17:47

Could never do it as early as april, am still waiting on paperwork like my P11D.

I try and get mine out of the way before Christmas, normally mid Nov/ early Dec.

Waiting until the 31st is madness IMO, one year the HMRC website crashed on the 31st. Obviously the deadline was extended after that, but why would you leave it until the last minute? Sadists.

IShallWearMidnight · 02/02/2011 17:49

return filed 28th Jan, refund in my account 2nd Feb (all £12 of it ). Larger refunds will take a bit longer generally.

FattyArbuckel · 02/02/2011 17:51

I generally submit in May

Then I can forget about it

itssnotfunny · 02/02/2011 17:53

i do mine end april beginning may just as soon as all statements n stuff are in. i do it early to sort outmy tax credits n stuff as well.

Boohooyou · 02/02/2011 17:57

Always do it in the last 2 or 3 hours.
Always say I'll do it earlier next year.

I have been investigated once (dodgy accountant hence why I now do it myself)
It was quite scary but they're only human and weren't mean to me.
It means I now know exactly what I can and can't put through.
ripeberry aslong as you get your return in on the 31st then you don't get a fine.

highriggs · 02/02/2011 17:58

I now force myself to do it in early May as I can't stand the dread feeling over Christmas.
It just feels so good not having that mad scramble to get an accountants appointment in Dec/Jan.

I have learned my lesson the hard way and the easy way is so much better.

I am pretty hard core procastinator

mrsgetonwithit · 02/02/2011 18:01

I used to be a smalltime photographer weddings etc always done the deeds as soon as they arrived and posted it next day...........

Take photos for fun now and no more tax returns lush.

KaraStarbuckThrace · 02/02/2011 18:02

I get my done by May. I have a spreadsheet which I have set up to keep track of my income, expenses etc., every month, and enter everything in there. I am actually a little behind, by about a couple of months but I will get caught up next week as I have some time set aside to do it.

plupervert · 02/02/2011 21:36

I was there on January 31, too...

Eddas · 02/02/2011 21:55

I find that the same people file their returns in Jan each year, the same can be said of the early filers too. We have been trying to pursade late filers to bring things to us earlier but they don't, ever, no matter how many times you ask. So I would expect the same to be said of people who file their own return. Some people (myself included) will put everything off until they really have to do it.

I actually filed my own return on 28th this year so was early for me Next year should be my final return so I will aim to get it done early to allow them to update their system and take me off of it, time will tell if it actually happens!!

fivegomadindorset · 02/02/2011 21:56

I had last years books to the accountants by then end of April last year.

farming4 · 02/02/2011 22:12

I have 4 returns to do (family members in same business) and every year I promise I will have them to the accountant in Sept along with the end of year accounts - as usual it was mid Jan before I finally got my ass in gear and guess what - the eoy accounts still ain't got there.......now time to worry about the VAT return due next week

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