HMRC reveals advantages of online tax returns

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has again emphasised the benefits of submitting self assessment tax returns online before the January 31st deadline.

A spokesperson for the tax body said that the two main advantages of using the online system are the added "security" which it provides and the fact that users will have all the calculations on the form done for them.

In an attempt to raise awareness of the fast-approaching deadline, the HMRC representative went on to detail the wide range of people which it applies to, stating that "the self-employed, landlords, company directors and people with generally more complicated tax affairs" all need to have their affairs in order by January 31st.

She also explained that the deadline only covers those with existing tax records - new businesses are required to carry out the necessary registration procedures first and cannot simply submit tax returns in January without notification.

"You can't just send a tax return out of the blue and not have had any previous history with us," she remarked.

HMRC is currently raising awareness of the deadline with the help of a giant inflatable calendar which reads '31 Jan'.