How do you prove delivery of your tax return?

HMRC has confirmed that they will no longer be issuing receipts for hand delivered tax returns. Tax payers and accountants alike will be disappointed to hear this news as it is fairly common for tax returns to go missing once delivered to a tax office.

In the past, a HMRC stamped receipt would be accepted as proof of delivery and thus could be used to eliminate late filing penalties. Although HMRC say that they will accept alternative proofs of delivery we find it hard to think of better proof than a stamped receipt!

This is probably more an indirect way of HMRC encouraging the tax paying public to file their returns on line as this means less inputting work for the tax man and an electronic receipt can automatically be emailed.