Six million tax returns filed online

Date: 2nd February 2009

Close to six million tax returns were filed online before the January 31st deadline, according to statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Figures from the department show that 5.8 million businesses and individuals took advantage of the online tax returns system.

It represents an increase of more than 50 per cent over last year's total, when 3.8 million people utilised HMRC's online taxation calculator and returns platform.

Financial secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, commented: "Online returns make it easier and quicker to calculate how much tax you owe and you can pay online two.

"The outstanding popularity of online filing demonstrated by today's figures is the foundation on which we are transforming the way taxpayers interact with us."

Last week, the Federation of Small Businesses had demanded that the deadline for self-assessment tax returns be extended to accommodate the unusual economic circumstances.