Tax deadline extended by two days due to strikes

Thousands of tax office workers are staging a 24-hour strike in a row over privatisation, leading to a delay in the deadline for filing tax returns.

HM Revenue and Customs has decided not to issue penalty fines to anyone missing Tuesday's deadline for self-assessment returns.

Anyone filing their returns on February 1st or 2nd will also not be fined.

John Whiting, from the Chartered Institute of Taxation says despite the two days grace, it is important to pay tax on time - or HMRC will impose a fine.