Top 10 tax return excuses revealed

The ten worst excuses for missing the Self Assessment deadline for 2013-14 have today been revealed. Credit: PA/Joe Giddens

From hungry animals devouring tax forms, to people claiming they are bad with paperwork, HM Revenue and Customs has revealed the worst excuses it's heard over the past year from people filing late tax returns.

It appears some people will stop at nothing to pass the blame for tardy timekeeping.

The excuses were all used in unsuccessful appeals against HMRC penalties for late returns.

The published list comes with a reminder, as the deadline for sending 2014-15 tax returns to HMRC, and paying any tax owed, is 31 January 2016.