Tax return to date of death

Do tax returns to date of death have to be submitted in paper form

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HMRC are advising that tax returns to date of death need to be submitted in paper form and hence by 31 October.  We have submited them electronically as ususal in the past with no issues.  Does anyone else  have any experience on this issue? 

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By Catherine Newman
11th Oct 2021 10:33

I was told by a client that she was told that last week. I file online too. I came to the conclusion that HMRC assume the now deceased client had a PTA and there is no longer access to it as the login details are personal to the deceased. I use PTP software and change the name to the Executor. I am working on the case today and intend to file online.

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By Homeworker
11th Oct 2021 10:34

I have filed several online over the years (I have an elderly client base!), with no problems.

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By Wanderer
11th Oct 2021 10:38

Wait until post 5 April then submit electronically. They will be dealt with much quicker!

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By Jo Nokes
11th Oct 2021 11:25

If the death occurred before 5 April 2021, I’m pretty sure you can file electronically, but if it was more recent , then unless you can wait until next April, I think you can only do a paper return, marking the period in ink on the front page.

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Replying to Jo Nokes:
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By Catherine Newman
11th Oct 2021 11:44

That makes a lot of sense. I dealt with a death in December and filed on paper. It took ages to get the refund whereas had I waited until after 5 April, the refund would have been straight away. I learned from that one.

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By Geoff56
11th Oct 2021 11:54

I have seen an HMRC letter, supplying a tax return to the personal representative of a former client who died in December 2020. The letter says "For security reasons, personal representatives or executors cannot file a tax return online". It goes on to give the PR a 31st October filing deadline.

In the past, I have filed online as agent for an executor, but I have not attempted to do so in the last two or three years.

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By lesley.barnes
11th Oct 2021 14:17

I had to submit a paper return following my mum's death in May 2021. HMRC wrote to me saying that they wanted a tax return 6th April - 28th May 2021 and it had to be returned on paper by the end of October 2021 or there would be penalties. (Not 2022) Her tax return to 5th April 2021 had already been filed online before she died. HMRC took away my access to her account when I checked it. I had a Deputyship which ended when mum died although I subsequently got probate. Check the dates on the letter carefully so you don't get caught out.

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Replying to lesley.barnes:
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By Jo Nokes
11th Oct 2021 14:51

Can they come up with that 2021 date legally? And you don't have to be an agent to file online.

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Replying to Jo Nokes:
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By Geoff56
11th Oct 2021 15:46

Sounds to me as if someone at HMRC has get themselves very confused over dates.

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Replying to Geoff56:
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By Paul Crowley
11th Oct 2021 16:24

Agree
If only HMRC trained the people on the phone and all the other people

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