Paper tax returns a no-no from November

If you haven’t yet sent your 2013/14 tax return to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), remember not to do it on paper – or you’ll end up with a £100 late-filing penalty.

The 31 October paper-filing deadline for 2013/14 tax returns has now passed. Even if you have no tax to pay, or you eventually pay your tax on time, a late paper return will still land you with the £100 penalty.

Now it’s November, the only way to avoid a penalty is by submitting your tax return online by 31 January.

To send an online tax return, you must be registered for HMRC Online Services. This involves HMRC sending you an Activation Code in the post, so allow time for this to arrive. If you haven’t registered for online filing, you can do so by visiting the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment and following the instructions.

You can file now and pay later – as long as you pay what you owe by 31 January.

Help and advice on filing your return is available from the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns or from the Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310 (open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4pm on Saturday).

Notes for editors

1. Around 11 million people are expected to fill out a Self Assessment return for the 2013/14 tax year (6 April 2013 – 5 April 2014).

2. The penalties for late Self Assessment returns are:

·  an initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if
the tax due is paid on time; 

·  after three months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of
£900; 

·  after six months, a further penalty of five per cent of the tax due or £300,
whichever is greater; and 

·  after 12 months, another five per cent or £300 charge, whichever is greater. 

3. There are also additional penalties for paying late of five per cent of the tax unpaid at 30 days, six months and 12 months.

4. Follow HMRC Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

5. Images are available on HMRC’s flickr site www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk