Tax returns. "Yes,", I hear you say, "and what of them?" Well, for those of you due to file a personal self assessment tax return for the year ended 5 April 2010, the deadline is fast approaching.
If you haven't filed, you'll need to do so online and, if you haven't registered to use the service, you should do so now, as you cannot file online with your authorisation code, which is posted to you on application. So, hurry, hurry, hurry, and avoid the risk of a penalty.
Alternatively, if you're going to fail to get your return in on time, but know what your tax liability is, make sure that it is paid by 31 January, as the initial penalty is £100 or the amount of tax unpaid, whichever is the lesser.
For more information, head for the HMRC website...
Indeed, I was on the phone to HMRC for precisely this purpose today. Having not done a self-assessment before, I need a UTR to register for self-assessment, and presumably there may then be a further delay to get the authorisation code. I was advised that "chances are" it wouldn't get to me before 31st Jan. How come HMRC are quite so slow about sending stuff out through the post?
ReplyDeleteCurious, really, as I assumed that they were sent out by computer once the request had been processed. There is a possibility that the number of requests is swamping the system, but that seems unlikely.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Royal Mail is to blame!