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How to avoid tax return hell

Posted on 12 Jan 2009 at 10:44

The over-riding message is that if your return is complicated, it might be worth investing in the software - otherwise, the free online package should prove adequate.

Avoid the rush

Whether you opt for dedicated software or not, the key advice is to file early. "Don't leave it to the last second, because if it's going to go wrong it will be down to sheer volume," said Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of tax at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. "Do it now and it might take about 20 minutes," agrees Forbes. "Come the last week in January you'll sit there for ever and ever if the system slows down."

One last piece of housekeeping advice. Don't expect to go online on 31 January and dive straight into a last-ditch effort to beat the deadline. For "security reasons", registration for the system requires an Activation PIN, which is sent to you through the post and should arrive within seven days.

Author: Stewart Mitchell