The "Can't file tax return 'cos HMRC site is down" thread...
Discussion
Anyone else???
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/efiling/temp_down.htm
This is what I've had all morning.
Will HMRC rescind the £100 late payment fines for people who tried to file on time but couldn't due to their server problems???
Will they arse.
And the first person to tell me that I should have filed it last week to avoid the rush gets a smack on the helmet.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/efiling/temp_down.htm
This is what I've had all morning.
Will HMRC rescind the £100 late payment fines for people who tried to file on time but couldn't due to their server problems???
Will they arse.
And the first person to tell me that I should have filed it last week to avoid the rush gets a smack on the helmet.
Well, you should 
As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Eric Mc said:
Well, you should
As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Anyway shouldn't you be too busy to post here today, Eric? As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Eric Mc said:
Well, you should
As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
I think this is exactly why the Revenue are so keen to tell people they no longer need to file a return - their system cannot cope with the numbers required. Also as the Government are basically forcing online filing on accountants, it will only get worse!As I said earlier, the Revenue's sytem should be robust enough to cope with the expected increased demand in the final run-up to 31 January.
Next year, far, far more tax returns will be being filed on-line at this time of the year so expect a complete melt down.
Absolutely disgraceful.
I thought I was being organised sitting down to do it yesterday, only to find out that I couldn't find my access code 
leading to a frantic filling out of the paper form so I could get it sent with a chance to arrive on time.
Next year I will get to my accountant on time instead!
I wonder, could they not stagger peoples returns throughtout the year?
leading to a frantic filling out of the paper form so I could get it sent with a chance to arrive on time.Next year I will get to my accountant on time instead!
I wonder, could they not stagger peoples returns throughtout the year?
Strictly speaking, no.
If you have cleared all your outstanding tax liabilities by 31 January, they cannot levy the £100 fine.
So paying the tax due is probably more important than submitting the return.
If you are due a tax refund, they cannot levy the fine anyway.
Of course, paying your tax now may mean that the payment hasnt cleared by midnight tonight so it's a bit of a moot point whether the Revenue consider the tax "paid" or not.
If you have cleared all your outstanding tax liabilities by 31 January, they cannot levy the £100 fine.
So paying the tax due is probably more important than submitting the return.
If you are due a tax refund, they cannot levy the fine anyway.
Of course, paying your tax now may mean that the payment hasnt cleared by midnight tonight so it's a bit of a moot point whether the Revenue consider the tax "paid" or not.
Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 31st January 13:04
I just had an interesting discussion with someone at the help desk about this. Apparently I shouldn't leave it until the deadline and should do it earlier. The fact that they know people leave it until the deadline doesn't seem to worry them - it is entirely our fault for not having done it before now, not down to them in terms of encouraging people to file online and then not providing a service capable of allowing people to do so. He said that there is no server on earth which is capable of handling 8 million people at one time, so I pointed out that they shouldn't offer the service then.
Of course, the cynic in me can't help but think the £100 from everyone who intended to file online on the last day - 150000 last year apparently - would be a nice boost to a screwed up economy!
I was also told that their deadline for getting it working again was 2pm. Just tried again and guess what, it's still not working.
Of course, the cynic in me can't help but think the £100 from everyone who intended to file online on the last day - 150000 last year apparently - would be a nice boost to a screwed up economy!
I was also told that their deadline for getting it working again was 2pm. Just tried again and guess what, it's still not working.
I doubt if 8 million are trying to file on line all at once.
Just over 9 million Self Assessment tax returns are sent out for completion every year. About 50% of them tend to be sent in in the month of January.
My plan this year was to not be submitting anything after 29 January as I just knew their servers would fall over.
Just over 9 million Self Assessment tax returns are sent out for completion every year. About 50% of them tend to be sent in in the month of January.
My plan this year was to not be submitting anything after 29 January as I just knew their servers would fall over.
andyps said:
Of course, the cynic in me can't help but think the £100 from everyone who intended to file online on the last day - 150000 last year apparently - would be a nice boost to a screwed up economy!
150,000 x £100So that's £15m for NOT providing the service that they already take from our taxes to provide.
Still not available online.
s.I've managed to get back on and my return is currently being submitted with the following message showing
"A short delay may be incurred whilst your Tax Return is submitted. We are waiting for notification that your Tax Return has been successfully received by HM Revenue & Customs.
This process may take a while. If you are not able to wait for a response, you can logout and return to your Tax Return later, to confirm that HM Revenue & Customs has received your Tax Return."
At least that is it for now, can't wait until January 31st 2009!
Edited to add:
It's gone and I have a submission receipt. Glad they can't get £100 from me this time.
"A short delay may be incurred whilst your Tax Return is submitted. We are waiting for notification that your Tax Return has been successfully received by HM Revenue & Customs.
This process may take a while. If you are not able to wait for a response, you can logout and return to your Tax Return later, to confirm that HM Revenue & Customs has received your Tax Return."
At least that is it for now, can't wait until January 31st 2009!
Edited to add:
It's gone and I have a submission receipt. Glad they can't get £100 from me this time.
Edited by andyps on Thursday 31st January 14:55
andyps said:
I just had an interesting discussion with someone at the help desk about this. He said that there is no server on earth which is capable of handling 8 million people at one time
Rubbish! It would not be hard to put a system in place that could support the number of concurrent users that currenty crash the system. It would sit idle for 364 days a year and be expensive, but it would do the job.edb49 said:
andyps said:
I just had an interesting discussion with someone at the help desk about this. He said that there is no server on earth which is capable of handling 8 million people at one time
Rubbish! It would not be hard to put a system in place that could support the number of concurrent users that currenty crash the system. It would sit idle for 364 days a year and be expensive, but it would do the job.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff