The paper tax return deadline is 31 October: what to do now
If you still file your Self Assessment on paper, your deadline is not January — it is 31 October, a full three months before everyone filing online. Miss it and HMRC charges a penalty even if you owe nothing. With the date now close, here is what to do.
The 31 October paper deadline
Paper Self Assessment returns are due by midnight on 31 October. That is three months earlier than the 31 January deadline that applies to online returns, and it catches people out every year. The penalty for a late return is £100, charged automatically, even if you owe no tax or are actually due a refund. It is not a date to drift past.
Filing online buys you three more months
Here is the part many paper filers do not realise: switching to online filing moves your deadline all the way to 31 January. That is three extra months, instant confirmation that HMRC has received your return, and no risk of post going astray near the deadline. The online system also works out the tax for you as you go. Unless you have a specific reason to stay on paper, filing online is usually the easier route by some distance.
Don't miss the 5 October registration deadline
If this is your first Self Assessment — you have recently become self-employed, started letting a property, or picked up other untaxed income — you also need to be registered with HMRC. The deadline to register is generally 5 October following the end of the tax year in which the income arose. Registration is not instant: HMRC issues a Unique Taxpayer Reference by post and you need an activation code, so if you have left it late, treat it as a priority. Our guide to registering as a sole trader walks through the process.
What you will need
Filing is far quicker with your information in front of you: records of your income, your allowable expenses, and details of any other income and tax already paid, such as from employment. The tidier your records through the year, the less painful this is — reconstructing twelve months from memory in late October is where the stress comes from. If you are unsure what you can claim, our guide to allowable expenses for the self-employed is a good starting point.
Don't forget the payment dates
Filing early does not move the payment dates. The tax itself is due by 31 January, and many people also make a second payment on account on 31 July towards the following year. Filing early simply tells you the number sooner, so you can budget for it rather than being surprised. We explain how these work in our guide to payments on account.
What to do this week
Whether you file on paper or online, use the next few days to gather your records and decide which route you are taking. If the 31 October paper deadline is tight, the simplest fix is often to register for online filing and give yourself until January. The worst option by far is to do nothing and collect a £100 penalty for a return that might have shown no tax at all. If the deadline has crept up on you around Garforth or Leeds, we can file correctly and on time, or move you onto a simpler online footing for next year.
This is general information, not advice for your circumstances. If you'd like it applied to your situation, get in touch — the first chat is free.
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