HMRC has a postal backlog of a million items, says the Financial Times, which is one reason it has decided to change its practice of an automatic £100 fine for anyone who missed the January 31 deadline for submitting a self-assessment return.
Instead, it will no longer levy a fine if there is a reasonable excuse, unless tax is still owed. Up to a million people may avoid the penalty. Just don’t expect a speedy reply to any letter you send them.