You would be surprised how many times this question comes up! The short answer is it depends.

If you are an individual who files tax returns year in year out and you received a blank form, or a request to complete letter, from HM Revenue & Customs in April this year, for the completion of your Self Assessment Tax Return (SATR) 2010 (Tax year 6 April 2009 to 5 April 2010) then the key dates are as follows:

31 October 2010

Deadline for paper submission of SATR - year ended 5 April 2010.

30 December 2010

Deadline for online submission of SATR - year ended 5 April 2010, if you are an employee (or in receipt of taxable pension income) and wish HMRC to collect tax through your PAYE code, for underpayments of up to £2,000.

31 January 2010

Deadline for online submission of SATR - year ended 5 April 2010.

It is worth mentioning that even if you do not receive a tax return but you do have a tax liability, you are under obligation to notify HMRC by 5 October following the tax year in which the liability arose.  For example, if you were in receipt of untaxed income which gave rise to a tax liability during the tax year ended 5 April 2010 then notification must be made to HMRC by 5 October 2010.

At Buick & Co we file all our clients' tax returns online and assist with notification of chargeability were required.  If you think you need our assistance, please get in touch and remember an initial consultation is FREE!

The above is for general guidance only.  Buick & Co Chartered Tax Advisers take no responsibility for this blog and its reliability.  If any tax planning is to be undertaken specific advice should be sought beforehand from a professional tax advisor.