HMRC urges early Self Assessment filing ahead of January 2027 deadline

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HMRC urges early Self Assessment filing

Highlights

HMRC urges approximately 12 million Self Assessment customers to file 2025–2026 returns early, ahead of the 31 January 2027 deadline, to avoid penalties and speed up refunds.
Early online filing allows PAYE taxpayers submitting before 30 December to have tax automatically collected via their tax code, improving cash flow management.
HMRC warns of increased tax-related fraud attempts, advising taxpayers to avoid clicking unsolicited links and to follow official anti-scam guidance on GOV.UK.

Deadline preparations and filing support

As reported by GOV.UK, HM Revenue and Customs is urging around 12 million Self Assessment customers to file returns for the 2025 to 2026 tax year before the late-January rush. Returns can be completed online, and taxpayers who are unsure whether they need to file can use the checker tool available on the government website.

HMRC says early filing allows customers to see what they owe in advance, giving them more time to plan payments. It also means those who have overpaid can receive refunds more quickly and lowers the risk of missing the deadline and facing penalties.

People new to Self Assessment need to register first to receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference before completing a return. Those who no longer need to submit a return can also notify HMRC through GOV.UK.

Payment options and fraud warning

Support on GOV.UK includes guidance for completing different sections of the tax return, explanatory videos and HMRC's digital assistant for common questions. Customers can also seek help from a tax agent, a friend or family member, or a voluntary organisation.

Taxpayers signed up to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax still need to submit their Self Assessment return in the usual way and pay any tax due by 31 January 2027. Customers with PAYE income who file online before 30 December can have tax owed collected through their tax code.

HMRC also warns that criminals often impersonate the department to obtain money or personal information. It advises people not to click links in unexpected messages, not to share HMRC sign-in details and to check official anti-scam guidance on GOV.UK.

Our earlier coverage on Pakistan’s income tax return filing deadline described mounting calls for the Federal Board of Revenue to extend Tax Year 2026 submissions into December 2026. The article highlighted legal arguments tied to the late notification of the final return form, along with complaints that persistent glitches on the IRIS portal and procedural hurdles were making on-time compliance difficult.

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