With just one week to go until the October 6 deadline for the submission of personal income tax returns, Treasury has announced extra assistance to help people complete their forms online.
The out-of-hours telephone service starts this Sunday afternoon (October 2) and will be also be available in the evenings next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Exact times are as follows:
| Sunday 2 October 2016 | 2pm to 8pm |
| Monday 3 October and Tuesday 4 October 2016 | 5.30pm to 8pm |
| Wednesday 5 October 2016 | 5.30pm to 10pm |
Gerard Higgins, business support manager with the Treasury’s Income Tax Division, explained:
‘An increasing number of taxpayers are realising that by going online to submit their returns they get a faster simpler service, including speedier processing of any refunds that may be due.
‘To assist new users the online enrolment process can be completed to enable immediate submission of their return online by calling 685400 (option 2) during normal office hours or through the extended hours telephone service as announced.’
Mr Higgins added:
‘Taxpayers may also like to know that in choosing the online option they are saving the public’s money by helping to cut down on government paperwork. If everyone submitted their personal returns online the saving of taxpayers’ money would be more than £600,000 each year. The benefits of using online services such as this were highlighted in Government’s Digital Strategy and many citizens already see the convenience and simplicity of transacting online.’
Paper returns can be put through the letterboxes located at the front entrance to, or on the 2nd floor inside, Government Office.
If anyone requires a duplicate return, they should contact the Division immediately so that it can be issued and returned before the deadline.
If the Income Tax Division has not received personal tax returns for the year ended 5 April 2016 by 6 October 2016, taxpayers will be charged a £100 penalty. If the return has still not been received by the Division by 6 April 2017, a further £200 penalty will be charged. Even if the penalties are paid, the return must still be submitted and people may be prosecuted for failing to do so.