Why is it that everything is left to the last minute when it comes to things we think we don’t want to do? Take filling in your tax return for example. By the time you read this article the deadline for submitting a paper return for the 2013-14 tax year will have passed (it was 31 October). Those who are planning to make an online submission (which is now everyone who hasn’t done one so far) have until 31 January 2015.

Quite apart from the obvious benefit of knowing that you have got the job out of the way, there are several reasons why doing something before you are pressed into doing it during the last few days before a deadline can be beneficial to you, especially when it comes to tax returns.

The tax man could pay for Christmas
31st January is not only the deadline by which you have to file your tax return, it is also the date for paying any tax that you owe for last year plus a payment on account for next year. If you have a liability, or think you are likely to have one, why leave it until a few days before payment is due to establish how much you are going to have to find? If you don’t have the money readily in a bank account, it doesn’t give you long to sort out finance, does it?

And what happens if HMRC owes you money? Surely it is better off in your bank account than the Treasury’s? Think what you could spend a repayment on. Christmas is just around the corner and the tax man could pay for all your shopping. How good would that be?

Accountants all over the land work ridiculous hours every January to deal with those people leaving things to the last minute. In addition to helping people to comply with their obligations to file accurate and timely returns, we save clients’ money by making sure that they make all of the claims to which they are legitimately entitled. Bringing all your papers in at the last minute gives us less chance to spend the required time on such considerations.

Give yourself a chance by giving us a chance and act now.