Self Assessment tax returns: 31 October paper filing deadline
If you wish to submit a paper tax return for 2007-08 it must reach us by Friday 31 October 2008. This deadline is extended to 31 January 2009 if you submit your return online.
Benefits of filing your Self Assessment tax return online
Any paper return received up until the end of Friday 31 October 2008 will not incur a late-filing penalty. Find out more see Guidance on late-filing penalties and enquiry time limits.
Delivering your paper return
By post
Remember if you post your completed paper return it will need to reach HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by Friday 31 October 2008.
By hand
Enquiry centres can accept returns by hand and are generally open 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. The offices shown below are currently the only offices that operate shorter opening hours than those offered by other HMRC offices:
10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Bainbridge
Bishops Stortford
Ripon
Rothesay
Wick
Winchester
8.30 am – 2.00 pm
Brecon
Hawick
Launceston
Witham
Further details of the location of all our enquiry centres can be found in the link below.
Receipts
HMRC will not issue receipts for returns sent through the post or handed in personally, but remember that online returns automatically receive an online acknowledgement. Read more about HMRC’s guidance regarding receipts.
Other useful information
Paper returns printed from a computer
Substitute returns are no longer approved by HMRC and any printed paper return sent in should be identical in format to the official HMRC version of the return and supplementary pages. Please follow the link below for further information.
Self Assessment: The tax return 2007-08
These tax return forms, notes and help sheets are available to view or download, and can be used if you have lost or mislaid the original forms sent to you. Further information on printed paper returns can be found in the link below.
Paper returns printed from a computer - guidance for agents
Attachments
For paper returns, you should only attach material directly supporting the return. Only attach material if it cannot be entered in the ‘any other information’ at box 19 of the core return, or the ‘any other information’ box on the relevant supplementary pages. HMRC’s online service however does allow supporting attachments of up to 5mb to be sent with the return. Please follow the link below for further details.
Self Assessment: Attachments to online return
Payments
Balancing payments for 2007-08 remain due on 31 January 2009. Rather than posting a payment please consider paying electronically. Please follow the link below for further information.
If you send a cheque with a return, you must also attach a payslip and if you are an agent or intermediary, enter the client’s Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) on the reverse of the cheque. Where you send payments to HMRC’s Accounts Office it is best to send a single cheque with a single payslip. But if you need to send a composite payment for more than one client (including partnerships) on a single cheque, please ensure there is a separate personalised payslip for each customer.
