Former newsreader new face of HMRC

Date: 26th September 2008

The former BBC newsreader Moira Stuart has been appointed the new face of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Ms Stuart, who is a household name for many Britons, will star in the department's television adverts to help promote the deadline for self-assessment tax returns.

Starting from next week, Ms Stuart will also feature on billboards and posters in a bid to remind people to get their returns out of the way as soon as possible.

HMRC's head of marketing, Simon Vessey, said: "It's great news that Moira's fronting our self-assessment campaign.

"She's a household name that people naturally tune into and trust, and that's essential when you're communicating a major change like the October 31st paper filing deadline."

Over nine million self-assessment tax returns are issued every year by HMRC, with nearly 4 million choosing to file online last year.

The two deadlines this year for self-assessment tax returns are October 31st for paper returns, and January 31st for those choosing to file online.