Anyone filing paper self-assessment tax returns only has until the end of the month to submit the forms to HM Revenue & Customs. Missing the 31 October deadline for 2009/10 paper returns could land late filers a £100 penalty, the taxman warned.
Three quarters of the UK's nine million self-assessed taxpayers already file online, which allows them three months longer to file their returns with HMRC. The taxman prefers people to submit online because it cuts down on the resource-intensive process of trawling through paper returns.
Paper filers can register for online filing by visiting www.hmrc.gov.uk/online and clicking “Register (new users)”, the taxman added. Help and advice is also available from the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa or from the Self Assessment helpline on 0845 9000 444.
