Barclays Banking glitch: No penalties for delayed tax payments

published on 4 February 2025 | reading time approx. 2 minutes

A recent technical issue with Barclays Bank has affected some tax payments made by businesses and individuals, potentially leading to delayed transactions for tax payments that were due by 31 January 2024. Many taxpayers who attempted to make payments on Friday encountered processing failures or delays, raising concerns about potential penalties for late payments. However, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that no penalties will be applied in cases where payments were affected by Barclays' banking glitch.

What happened?

On Friday, Barclays experienced a technical issue that disrupted various banking services, including tax payments. As a result, some transactions were not completed as expected, leading to uncertainty for taxpayers who aimed to meet the crucial 31 January deadline.

Reassurance from HMRC

In response to the situation, HMRC has reassured affected taxpayers that they will not face penalties for late payments resulting from Barclays' technical failure. This decision provides much-needed relief for businesses and individuals who rely on timely transactions to remain compliant with tax obligations.

What should taxpayers do?

If you made a tax payment on or around 31 January and are unsure whether it was successfully processed, we recommend the following steps:

Check your bank statements to confirm if the payment has been debited.
Review your HMRC account to verify if the payment has been received.
Contact your bank if you notice any issues with your transaction.
Reattempt the payment if necessary, ensuring that funds reach HMRC as soon as possible.

Support for Affected Clients

As a firm of tax and accounting agents, we understand that such disruptions can cause stress and uncertainty. If you have any concerns regarding your tax payments, we are here to assist you in verifying transactions and ensuring your payments are properly recorded with HMRC.