Tax Return Deadline

It seems that the older we are, the less likely we are to miss the deadline for filing our self-assessment tax return, according to a press release by HMRC.

As I struggled to complete my own today I did ponder on the reason for this. Perhaps age brings simplification of tax affairs or simply less money.

Alternatively is it accredited to experience? Caught short and fined in the past could ensure future compliance as a result.

Come to think of it as we grow older do we just get more realistic and conscious of how long the darned forms take to complete. Leaving them to the last minute will inevitably make meeting the filing and payment date of 31st January that much harder. 

Or is it because with age comes more time and the ability to organise it better? Certainly, sitting at home on a snowy January day I have felt more readily disposed to getting down to the information gathering and form filling that is required. Unfortunately several more sessions will be required before the document is going to be finished. At least I no longer have to spend evenings and weekends on it and, if  the poor weather continues, it may even be ready by the end of the week.