Paper filing date approaching fast
The standard filing date for a personal tax return is 31 January. However, if you submit paper returns you need to do it earlier. What is the paper filing date, and how can HMRC’s new videos help if you need to remove yourself from self-assessment?
Currently, the self-assessment system is mainly processed in arrears, i.e. returns and payments are due after the end of the tax year. Most taxpayers have a filing deadline of 31 January after the end of the relevant tax year, so have almost ten months to gather and report their information. However, if you complete a paper return you only get until 31 October. You therefore have less than two weeks to get the return to HMRC.
Before you do, you may want to review your circumstances to see if you still need to be in self-assessment at all. For example, if you have ceased a claim to child benefit due to the high income child benefit charge, or were self-employed but have ceased trading. HMRC has published two videos explaining how to withdraw online, one for self-employed and one for others.
Related Topics
-
Tax relief on equipment you haven’t paid for (yet)
The timing of tax relief for purchases of equipment isn’t straightforward when payments are delayed or goods are purchased through hire purchase (HP) agreements. How can you use these rules to your advantage and get tax relief before you’ve paid the final invoice?
-
HMRC clarifies summer holiday VAT cut
HMRC has published further guidance on the temporary VAT reduction for certain activities during the school summer holidays. The additional detail helps businesses determine which supplies qualify for the relief and, importantly, which do not. What do you need to know?
-
First MTD quarterly deadline arrives
The first quarterly reporting deadline under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is 7 August 2026. HMRC has now confirmed what will happen to those who miss it, including when it will start sending reminder letters. What do you need to know?


This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.