Taxation: Self-Assessment

Mr. Francois
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received in fines for the late submission of self-assessment tax forms in each of the last nine years.

Ed Balls
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 3138W.

Penalties paid for the year to end of October 2005 was £39.40 million.

Mr. Francois
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were fined for late submission of self-assessment tax forms in each of the last nine years.

Ed Balls
The total numbers of people to whom HM Revenue and Customs issued Late Filing Penalties in each of the last four years are as detailed in the following table. This information is not available prior to 2003-04.

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|       |Number   |
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|2006-07|1,582,446|
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|2005-06|1,468,476|
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|2004-05|1,482,044|
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|2003-04|1,424,416|
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A self assessment taxpayer may receive more than one penalty in each year. The table shows the total number of penalty notices issued less the number of penalties cancelled in each year.