Although the tax year ends in April, the deadline for completing and paying self-assessment tax is not until 31st January the following year. People can file their tax return at any point in that period, with some opting to do it straight away in April, while others will still be completing it on 31st January as midnight fast approaches. However, there are a surprising number of people who chose to file theirs on Christmas Day.

Festive filing

According to HMRC, in 2025, 37,435 people submitted their tax returns between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, with more than 4,600 of these filed on Christmas Day itself.

A quiet business day

While this may sound like a high number, it should be remembered that not everyone has people to celebrate with, nor does everyone celebrate Christmas.

Self-employed people are often busy as they manage their business, fulfil orders, keep records, and more. Christmas Day may simply be a suitable quiet day when little else is happening with their business, which gives them the time they need to complete their tax return. If you are struggling to find the time to complete your tax return, it may be worth entrusting the matter to an accountant. Find one in your area with an internet search. For example, searching for accountants in Bath gives results like accountants Bath.

One reason for the urgency is that Christmas is only just over a month before the deadline of 31st January. And if January is busy, it may be a last chance to file without facing late penalties.