HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is issuing a reminder to anyone who hasn’t yet submitted their 2008-09 Self Assessment tax return – do it online, by the end of January, or you could risk a penalty.

The 31 October deadline for paper returns has now passed, which means you must file your return online by the 31 January deadline. If you submit a paper return after 31 October, or you file online after 31 January, you could receive a £100 penalty.

If you’re a first-time Self Assessment filer, or you are new to online filing, you’ll first need to register for HMRC’s Self Assessment Online service. Registering is simple – visit the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa and click “Register for Self Assessment Online””. Once you’ve registered