Following member calls on 31 January, we were in touch with HMRC and unfortunately received confirmation that there was a problem with the Self Assessment Online system. HMRC have confirmed that everyone who files electronically or by paper by midnight Friday 1 February will be treated as having filed on time.

ICAI are clear that there must be no exposure to deadline penalties for Chartered Accountants and their clients because of HMRC systems faults.

HMRC refute comments that online filing is not secure

In a statement released on Sunday 27 January, HMRC stated that it is “completely untrue” that online filing systems are not secure because certain taxpayers cannot use the Self Assessment service. On a related issue, ICAI representatives are to meet this week with the acting HMRC Chairman on data security issues.

The full statement is reproduced below:

“HMRC Online Services – secure and safe to use

• Some newspapers and broadcast media have claimed that HMRC's online filing systems are not secure because Members of Parliament and a small number of other taxpayers cannot use the Self Assessment service.
• This is completely untrue. A small minority of taxpayers, including MPs, cannot currently use online services because the additional internal safeguards on their records mean that their taxpayer reference numbers are not recognised on the authentication system.
• This therefore has nothing to do with the security of our online services. HMRC online services use the highest levels of encryption generally available and authentication processes similar to online banks.
• HMRC is continuing to explore ways to extend online filing to all taxpayers.
• Almost 3 million Self Assessment taxpayers have used SA online to file their return safely and securely.”