October deadline looming for tax returns

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued an alert to anyone filing their Self Assessment tax return on paper - get it in by 31 October, or you could face a £100 penalty.

If you normally file on paper, you could also file your return online instead. It's simple to file your return electronically - three quarters of Self Assessment filers already do it - and you get three months longer to file.

Online filing has other advantages too: your tax is calculated automatically; you get an immediate online acknowledgement once you've filed; and it's processed faster, so any money you're owed is repaid more quickly.

Registering for online filing is simple - visit the HMRC website at hmrc.gov.uk/sa and click "Register for Self Assessment Online".

Help and advice is available from the HMRC website at hmrc.gov.uk/sa or from the Self Assessment helpline on 0845 9000 444.