Vengeful witches and pet hamsters feature in HMRC's list of imaginative excuses and expense claims, which has been published in the run up to the self assessment deadline.
HMRC has compiled a list of the weirdest unsuccessful excuses from the last decade.
The list includes one taxpayer who claimed their mother-in law was a witch who had cursed them, hamsters and dogs that had eaten the post and a taxpayer who was up a mountain without internet access.
HMRC also reported questionable expense claims including pet food for a Shih Tzu 'guard dog' and 250 days of claims for a £4.50 sausage and chips meal.
Commenting on the list, Angela MacDonald, HMRC Director General of Customer Services, said:
'Each year, we try to make it as easy and simple as possible for our customers to complete their tax returns and the majority make the effort to do their's right and on time.
'We always offer help to those who have a genuine excuse for not submitting their return on time. It is unfair to the majority of honest taxpayers when others make bogus claims.'
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