West Lothian households are being urged to check if they need to fill in a tax return ahead of two key October deadlines set by HMRC, to avoid the risk of incurring a fine.
Advice Direct Scotland is reminding people that they only have until October 5 to inform HMRC if they need to register for self-assessment for the 2023/24 tax year.
The national advice agency recently launched a free tax helpline and website, taxadvice.scot, which is backed by HMRC and is designed to help people understand their tax obligations.
Another key deadline falls at the end of the month, with anyone who wants to file a paper version of their tax return only having until midnight on October 31 to do so.
People who are unsure if they need to register for self-assessment can check on the HMRC website or call an adviser at taxadvice.scot on 0800 756 3381.
Registration can be completed easily online through HMRC, but anyone who fails to do this and submits their tax return late risks a fine.
There are a number of reasons that people might need to fill in a tax return, including if they are self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earned more than £1000 during the tax year.
People with total taxable incomes of more than £150,000, those who had to pay Capital Gains Tax during 2023/24 and those who need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge also need to register for self-assessment.
Those who earned any untaxed income, such as money from renting out a property, tips and commissions, and income from savings, investments and dividends, may also have to declare it by filling in a tax return.
Scots struggling to understand their tax obligations or navigate their self-assessment forms can call 0800 756 3381 to speak to specialist advisers ready that are to help.
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