Studying the form

Filling in tax returns is a daunting prospect for many but putting them off or ignoring them altogether can result in a raft of Inland Revenue penalties. David Pointer gives advice for those reluctant to cross the starting line.

The winter nights are drawing in, summer holidays are just fond
memories and the barbecue has been safely stored in the garage for next
year. What now? Perhaps something should be done with that pile of
paperwork in the 'life's too short' file.


It is a safe bet that many still have the tax return received in
April.


On average about nine million people each year are issued an Inland
Revenue tax return. Around half are sent the form because they are
self-employed, others receive it because they have