HC Deb 14 March 2001 vol 364 cc653-4W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Treasury received in fines levied for failure to complete individual tax returns by 31 January in each financial year from 1997–98. [148984]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 7 February 2001]: Taxpayers filing late under the self-assessment system render themselves liable for penalties. Figures for penalty receipts are accounted for by the Inland Revenue in account years ending on the last Friday in October, rather than in financial years. SA penalty receipts for the last three accounts were as follows:

Account £
1998 18,085,069
1999 29,360,479
2000 32,960,556

Neither the Treasury nor the Inland Revenue levies fines for failure to complete individual tax returns by 31 January.