Don’t let Self-Assessment become the Grinch that steals your Christmas

Christmas. A time of year for tinsel, turkey, tangerines, and… tax returns?  

One of these items is about as festive as finding a lump of coal in your stocking, yet data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has found that in 2023, 25,769 people filed their Self-Assessment tax returns over the three-day festive period, 4,757 of which made submissions on Christmas Day itself.  

These numbers show that it is a struggle for many to switch off over the Christmas break, with the 31 January Self-Assessment deadline looming larger than a plate of Boxing Day turkey sandwiches.  

While the dedication of those filing their returns between mouthfuls of mince pies is admirable, is that really how you want to be spending Christmas? 

Instead of sipping mulled wine or arguing over who cheated at Monopoly, you are staring at receipts and spreadsheets, muttering about allowable expenses.  

Not exactly what Shakin’ Stevens had in mind when he penned Merry Christmas Everyone, that is for sure.  

Unlike a family member who outstays their welcome, Self-Assessment does not have to ruin your Christmas.  

You can avoid last-minute stress by getting your return done early. Better yet, let us take care of it for you. This will help by: 

• Providing peace of mind – The earlier it is done, the sooner you can forget about it. No more deadline dread lurking in the back of your mind. 

• Avoiding penalties – Missing the 31 January deadline could leave you with a fine bigger than Santa’s naughty list. 

• Giving more time to budget – Filing early means you will know exactly what you owe and can plan ahead—because nobody likes an unexpected January bill. 

How can we help? 

Think of us as your tax return elves, minus the pointy shoes and jingling hats.  

We will gather the numbers, submit the forms, and handle all the details, so you can focus on what really matters: eating too much Christmas pudding and falling asleep in front of the television.  

And if you’ve already planned to just get it done in January, ask yourself – why wait? 

Would it not feel better to kick off the new year knowing it is already sorted? 

This Christmas, give yourself the gift of time. Time to relax, time to make memories, and time to enjoy the holiday without a single thought of tax returns. 

Let us do the hard work now, so you can enjoy a stress-free festive season.  

For more advice and assistance with your Self-Assessment submissions, please speak with our team of experts today.