According to the Observer, tens of thousands of individuals with incomes below the United Kingdom tax threshold received fines from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for late tax return submissions in the 2021 to 2022 period.

Specifically, over eighty-three thousand people earning below the taxable income threshold were fined one hundred pounds, yet only seventeen thousand of these fines were later canceled.

Meanwhile, only twenty thousand individuals earning one hundred thousand pounds or more were fined for similar offenses.

A larger issue arises with three hundred pound penalties handed out for returns filed a year late, where low-income earners represent half of the total sixty-one thousand fines distributed.

These findings were revealed by the Tax Policy Associates (TPA) through the Freedom of Information Act, raising concerns that vulnerable individuals are being unfairly penalized.

Discussions suggest reverting to pre-2010 policies, where non-taxpayers were exempt from such fines.

A self-employed photographer shared his ordeal of incorrectly being fined despite not owing taxes, underscoring the confusion and psychological distress caused.

The fines have reportedly decreased slightly from the previous year, and a new system is being phased in to issue warnings before penalties.

However, campaigners argue that the transition has been delayed, leading to current unfairness.

An HMRC spokesperson stated that system reforms are underway to support taxpayers in filing on time without incurring fines.