Myrtle Lloyd urges early filing as Hm Revenue & Customs logs 740,000 returns
hm revenue & customs said almost 740,000 Self Assessment returns were submitted in April 2025, setting a new record for the first month of the tax year. The department is urging taxpayers to file early rather than wait for January, saying the move can ease pressure later and help some people get refunds sooner.
Myrtle Lloyd, HM Revenue and Customs’ chief customer officer, said: "For thousands of people, filing early and staying on top of their finances has become the norm. It takes the pressure off in January and means they can spend their time focusing on their business and doing things they love." She added: "Make a start on your tax return today by searching ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK."
Myrtle Lloyd on early filing
HMRC said more than 298,900 people filed Self Assessment returns between 6 and 12 April 2025. That was the opening week of the 2025 to 2026 tax year, and it was part of the April total that broke the department’s record for the month.
The guidance HMRC updated on GOV.UK points taxpayers to filing early and to help with paying tax bills. People who have overpaid tax can claim refunds as soon as their return has been processed, and they can check in the HMRC app whether they are due one.
HMRC payment plans
For taxpayers who need time to pay, HMRC said budget payment plans can be set up by weekly or monthly direct debit. That gives people a way to spread Self Assessment bills across the year rather than meet the full amount at once.
The early-filing push comes as more than 12 million taxpayers are expected to submit a 2025 to 2026 tax return by 31 January 2027. HMRC is already pointing some self-employed people and landlords toward changes that arrive later in the timetable, with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax due from 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with turnover above £50,000, and from April 2027 for those with combined turnover above £30,000.
For anyone deciding whether to wait, the practical choice is already set out: start now, use GOV.UK to file, and check the HMRC app if a refund may be due.
