File tax return early to beat "heavy web traffic"

Taxpayers should get in early to avoid "heavy web traffic" if they're filing their self assessment tax return online, as traffic is already running 30 per cent above last year.

Just under 1.3 million returns were filed via the internet for the previous tax year - and to date this year, traffic to the site is running almost a third higher already, according to HM Revenue & Customs.

Figures for online filing in the last tax year illustrate the last-minute surge in online filing when the deadline looms.

Almost 480,000 (38 per cent) of returns were filed online in January alone last year. More than 250,000 returns were filed online in the last week (20 per cent), and 102,000 (eight per cent) were filed during the final weekend.

Roy Massingale, director of self assessment at HMRC, said in a statement: "To avoid heavy web traffic as we approach the 31 January deadline we encourage people to get in early and not be part of a last-minute rush."

The government department is expecting a record number of returns filed through the HMRC website in the weeks before 31 January, and is advising tax payers to complete their online returns early, or use off peak times such as evenings or weekends.

Returns that aren't in by the deadline face a £100 penalty, and interest is charged on any outstanding tax due.

In total, 9.8 million self assessment tax returns were issued during the 2004-05 tax year. And 998,000 £100 penalty notices were issued for returns filed after the 31 January deadline.