Self Assessment newcomers urged to register now for online services

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging first-time Self Assessment (SA) filers who haven’t sent in their returns to register for its online services now.

It’s easy to register – just visit the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk/how-to-send-self-assessment-online/sign-up-for-an-online-account and follow the instructions.

Registration can take up to seven working days to complete, as it involves HMRC sending you an activation code in the post. It’s therefore important not to leave this to the last minute, to avoid being in a rush to beat the 31 January filing deadline.

SA online customers can now opt to receive HMRC communications electronically, rather than via traditional print and post channels. This is a new service that will make the SA process paperless.

The deadline for paying any tax owed for 2013/14 is also 31 January. Taxpayers who owe less than £3,000, and want HMRC to collect the tax they owe through next year’s tax code, need to submit their online return by midnight on 30 December.

Simple, straightforward advice on SA can be found at HMRC’s new Facebook page at http://ow.ly/FFcYk and four YouTube videos covering important SA reminders can be downloaded at http://ow.ly/FFdaG

Further 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 SA helpline on 0300 200 3310 (open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4pm on Saturday).

Notes for editors

1.  Around 11.2 million people are expected to fill out an SA return for the 2013/14 tax year (6
 April 2013 – 5 April 2014).

2.  The penalties for late SA 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