More than 4,600 Self-Assessment customers filed their tax return on Christmas Day.
In total, 37,435 customers filed between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, suggesting that for some, festive filing is becoming as much a tradition as watching the King’s Speech (or avoiding the washing up).
Not everyone’s convinced, though. When HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spoke to Self-Assessment customers at the Manchester Christmas market, turkey – not tax returns – was firmly on the menu. You can watch their reactions below.
The festive filing breakdown shows:
- Christmas Eve (24 December): 22,350 tax returns filed, with peak filing time between 11:00 and 11:59 when 3,159 customers submitted their returns.
- Christmas Day (25 December): 4,606 tax returns filed, with the busiest hour between 13:00 and 13:59 when 359 returns were received.
- Boxing Day (26 December): 10,479 tax returns filed, peaking between 15:00 and 15:59 with 946 submissions.
The HMRC app makes it simple to pay your Self-Assessment bill and set up payment reminders. Customers can also find help online including YouTube videos, webinars and step-by-step guidance covering different sections of a tax return. For a list of all payment methods, search ‘Pay your Self-Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK.
The new High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) PAYE digital service means thousands of Child Benefit claimants who are only in Self-Assessment to pay HICBC can now opt out and can choose to pay the charge back through their tax code.
Eligible customers can call HMRC to de-register from Self-Assessment before the filing deadline in a tax year. Where a tax return has already been sent, customers can choose to de-register from the following tax year. HMRC will then amend their tax code, and they will be registered to pay HICBC through PAYE.
Customers do not need to include their 2025 Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating payment in Scotland, on their tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year as payments received in Autumn 2025 will be recovered in the 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by 31 January 2027.
HMRC urges customers to stay alert to scams. Never share your HMRC login details with anyone. Find advice on spotting scams on GOV.UK.
