Self-assessment website crashes

The part of the HM Revenue & Customs website concerning self-assessment has crashed as the deadline for filing tax returns approaches.

If you have not filed your tax return by midnight tonight you could incur a fine but the process has been made more difficult by technical difficulties.

A message on the website reads: "We are sorry but the service is currently unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause."

A spokesman for HMRC told Web User that there had been some problems with the website today and it is currently working to fix them.

HMRC has been under fire in recent months after it emerged that two discs, containing data on 25 million UK citizens, had gone missing from its care.

It was subsequently nominated for the Internet Villain of the Year Award by the Internet Service Providers' Association.

UPDATE: The deadline for tax returns to be filed is now going to be moved back 24 hours until midnight on 1 February.

Has this problem affected you? Email us on news@webuser.co.uk or visit our forums at www.webuser.co.uk/forums

www.hmrc.gov.uk