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The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is pressing HMRC to be lenient with partnerships who submit their paper tax returns late.
The organisation has criticised the Revenue for not making clear in their current self assessment marketing push that partnerships cannot file online unless they use a commercial software package.
'Many partnerships who do not have agents to represent them could get caught out by the new filing deadlines and suffer a penalty charge,' said the LITRG, adding that partnerships 'may not have appreciated that the free HMRC software only supports the partners' personal returns'.
The LITRG said the Revenue had failed to communicate this issue, and as such should 'waive any penalties provided the partners individually would not be in a penalty position'.
The group went on: 'It is unacceptable for HMRC… not to provide the tools to low-income filers'.
The Revenue refuted the LITRG's claims and stressed that only a 'small group of taxpayers (less than 1%)', which includes partnerships, is not supported by the online filing system.
'HMRC [have] a limited budget and therefore must prioritise enhancements to [our] online services to benefit the maximum number of taxpayers,' the department added.
'A number of commercial products are available, and these may be purchased for as little as £10.
'The vast majority of partnership returns are completed by tax agents, and most, if they choose to file online, already use commercial software.'
