When living and working in the UK, most people associate October with two familiar events: the clocks going back for winter time and Halloween. But there is something far more important than ‘trick or treat’ for many – the critical deadline for self-assessment tax registration. Most employees in the UK pay tax automatically through the PAYE system.

According to HMRC’s latest annual report, a record 46,266 tax penalties were cancelled in the past year. These penalties were originally issued for late filing, but in many cases the taxpayers involved did not actually owe any tax. Automatic late filing penalties can be appealed In the UK, if you miss the filing deadline for Self Assessment or VAT returns, both individuals and businesses are automatically issued with a penalty notice.