Don’t miss these deadlines

The deadline for submitting your 2008/09 tax return by post is 31 October 2009 

Returns filed manually after this date will result in a £100 fine. Paper returns must reach HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by this date so that it can calculate the tax you owe before the 31 January payment deadline.
The end of October is also the final submission date for paper returns if you want the tax you owe to be collected through your tax code. This is possible if you owe less than £2,000.

The deadline for filing your 2008/09 tax return online is 30 December 2009 if you want to pay through your tax code

Six million taxpayers filed online last year, an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year. This method means the tax owed is calculated automatically. Rebates are also paid back more quickly to online filers. All tax owed must be paid by 31 January 2010.

Late filing and payment means taxpayers are automatically fined £100. If the balance has not been paid by 28 February 2010, a further five per cent surcharge is added to the bill and if the tax still has not been paid by 31 July 2010 another five per cent charge is applied.