If you missed the 31 January 2026 self-assessment deadline, daily penalties of £10 started on 1 March 2026. That's 16 days of penalties so far — roughly £260+ on top of the £100 initial fine.
The only way to stop the daily charges: file your return.
Even with estimated figures. Even if you can't pay. Filing stops the clock. You can amend later.
The penalty timeline
| When | What | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day late | £100 automatic penalty | £100 |
| 3 months (1 March 2026) | £10/day, up to 90 days | £100 + £10/day |
| 6 months | £300 or 5% of tax | £1,300+ |
| 12 months | Another £300 or 5% | £1,600+ |
As of today (16 March), you're at roughly £260 in filing penalties alone — before late payment interest.
What to do right now
- Log into Government Gateway
- Start your self-assessment return
- Use best estimates if you don't have exact figures
- Submit today
- If you can't pay, call 0300 200 3822 for a Time to Pay plan
An estimated return filed today is infinitely better than a perfect return filed next month.
Can you get the penalties cancelled?
If you have a "reasonable excuse" — serious illness, bereavement, HMRC service outage, fire/flood — yes. "I forgot" or "I was busy" won't cut it.
File first. Appeal second. The appeal doesn't stop daily penalties from accumulating.
Free tools
I built a penalty calculator that shows your exact current penalty based on today's date.
And a detailed guide on reasonable excuses and how to appeal.
Every day you wait costs £10. File today.
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