CAMBRIDGESHIRE residents who fail to meet the deadline for their paper tax returns will now be hit with a �100 penalty.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are expecting around 111,000 people to file a self assessment return in the county this year.

But those who fail to meet the deadline on October 31 will be forced to shell out �100 - even if there is no tax to pay or the tax due is paid on time.

The newly-established penalty regime includes further charges for the longer the return is delayed, with additional penalties after three, six and 12 months.

People who can’t send their paper returns in by 31 October can still avoid a penalty by sending it online instead.

But, if a paper return is sent after the 31 October deadline, the initial �100 penalty cannot be avoided by subsequently filing online.

To find out more about the October deadline and sending a paper tax return, visit: www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/deadline-news.htm

Those who send their tax return online get an extra three months to send it, as the deadline is 31 January. Other advantages include:

• your tax is calculated automatically

• you get an immediate online acknowledgement

• your tax return is processed faster, so any money that you are owed is repaid more quickly.

To register for HMRC Online Services visit: www.hmrc.gov.uk/online.

For help and advice on completing a return, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa or call the self assessment helpline on 0845 9000 444.