If you're a UK freelancer who missed the 31 January self-assessment deadline, here's the bad news: as of 1 March, HMRC is now charging £10 per day on top of the initial £100 penalty.
That means if you still haven't filed, you're looking at £200+ in penalties right now — and it gets £10 worse every single day.
The penalty timeline
| When | What happens | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day late | £100 automatic penalty | £100 |
| 3 months (1 March) | £10/day starts | £100 + £10/day |
| 6 months | £300 or 5% of tax | £1,000+ |
| 12 months | Another £300 or 5% | £1,300+ |
Maximum filing penalties alone: over £1,600. Plus late payment interest.
What to do right now
1. File immediately — even with estimates
This stops the daily penalties. Don't have exact figures? HMRC allows estimated returns. File now, amend later.
2. Pay what you can
Filing and paying are separate. File even if you can't pay. HMRC offers Time to Pay arrangements — call 0300 200 3822.
3. Appeal if you have a reasonable excuse
Serious illness, bereavement, HMRC service outage — these count. "I forgot" doesn't.
Free tools
I built a penalty calculator that shows exactly what you owe based on today's date:
- Self-Assessment Penalty Calculator — see your current penalty amount
- Late Payment Interest Calculator — statutory interest on what you owe
- Reasonable Excuse Guide — full list of what HMRC accepts
No sign-up, no cost, your data stays in your browser.
Every day you wait costs £10. File today.
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