Penalties: Making Tax Digital

HMRC's Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme has resulted in a re-design of penalties for late filing and payment. 

Subscribers see Penalties: points based system and Penalties (VAT)

This is a freeview 'At a glance' guide to penalties under the Making Tax Digital regime.

At a glance

Late submission penalties 

Finance Act 2021 introduced a points-based late filing penalty regime which will replace existing late filing penalties for VAT (from January 2023) and Income Tax. 

This measure was consulted on in 2018, see Penalties: points based system

• When a taxpayer misses a submission deadline, they will incur a point. 
  • Points accrue separately for VAT and Income Tax. 
• A penalty of £200 is charged when the taxpayer reaches a points threshold based on the taxpayer's submission frequency: 
  • Annual: Two points
  • Quarterly: Four points
  • Monthly: Five points
• Accrued points expire after 24 months where the taxpayer remains below the points threshold. 
• When a points threshold is reached, all points will expire after the taxpayer has met their return obligations for a set period based on their submission frequency:
  • Annual: 24 months.
  • Quarterly: 12 months.
  • Monthly: Six months.
  • And all returns due within the preceding 24 months have been received by HMRC.
• Where a taxpayer continues to miss submission deadlines after reaching the points threshold and a penalty has been charged they will be liable for a further fixed penalty for each missed obligation. 
• Penalties will not be charged, or points recorded, where the taxpayer has a Reasonable excuse for not meeting the submission deadline. 
  • There will be a right to Appeal against points and penalties. 

Late payment penalties

An amended Late payment penalty regime will be aligned across the main taxes. 

• A first late payment penalty will be payable 30 days after the payment due date based on a percentage of the balance outstanding. 
  • No penalty will be payable if the tax is paid within 15 days of the due date. 
  • Tax unpaid after day 15 will attract a 2% penalty. 
  • Where tax remains unpaid by day 30, the penalty increases to 4%.
• From day 31, a second late payment penalty is charged at 4% per annum, accruing on a daily basis based on amounts outstanding. 
• Penalties will stop accruing where a Time To Pay agreement is reached. Penalties will not be charged where the taxpayer has a reasonable excuse for not making payment on time. 
• There will be a right to appeal against penalties. 

Implementation 

The new late payment and late submission penalty rules will apply as follows:

• VAT: accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023.
• Income Tax:
  • Volunteers to test the Making Tax Digital for ITSA, will be subject to the new late submission and late payment penalties. There will be no late submission penalties for missing quarterly updates, during the testing phase of Making Tax Digital for ITSA.
  • ITSA taxpayers with business or property income over £50,000 per year, who are required to submit digital quarterly updates through Making Tax Digital for ITSA, from the tax year beginning 6 April 2026 (postponed from April 2024).
  • ITSA taxpayers with business or property income over £30,000 from the tax year beginning 6 April 2027.
  • General partnerships from a future date yet to be determined. This was to have been from April 2025 but was postponed in December 2022.
• HMRC says that it will apply 'a light touch' to penalties for the first 12 months of operation of the new scheme.

Interest harmonisation 

The interest rules for VAT align with Income Tax rules from January 2023. 

• Where VAT is paid after the due date, late payment interest will be payable from the date that payment became due until the date it is received by HMRC.
• HMRC will pay repayment interest on overpaid tax and refunds due to be repaid. 

See Penalties (VAT)

Useful guides on this topic

Penalties (VAT)
When do penalties apply for VAT? What penalties are charged and how can they be mitigated?

Penalties: Late Filing MTD
A points-based late submission penalty regime is replacing existing late submission penalties for VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) under Making Tax Digital.

Penalties: Late Payment MTD
Penalties for late payment of tax under Making Tax Digital for VAT and Income Tax.

Penalties: Late Payment
What penalties are charged when tax is paid late? 

Grounds for Appeal: Reasonable excuse
What is considered to be a 'reasonable excuse' when a taxpayer makes an appeal against a tax compliance failure?