The Government is set to make more than £90 million in fines as thousands of Britons are expected to fail to send their tax returns in on time.
The final deadline for online self-assessment forms to be sent back to HMRC is 31 January. So far, 3.8 million self-assessment returns have been received, the Revenue said.
Although that's 4.2% higher than the same time last year, when added up to the 1.8 million paper returns received, another 3.5 million returns are still due.
Accountancy experts said most of those would file in time for the final deadline, but about 900,000 were still expected to miss it, and be fined £100. Taxpayers will also face interest on any unpaid tax.
HMRC has been promoting its online returns service with adverts featuring newsreader Moira Stewart. Just under 30,000 taxpayers filed online in 2001. By last year, that figure hit 6.4 million.
This year, almost 100 taxpayers chose to spend their New Year's Eve filing their tax return. Between 11pm and midnight, 96 pressed submit on their forms. That's on top of the 845 individuals who filed on Christmas day, 407 of those filed by accountants avoiding the turkey festivities on behalf of their clients.
A spokesman for the Revenue said: "Those who have
not registered to file online need to get moving.
Anyone who needs help needs to contact us as soon
as possible."
