That will just make the Inland Revenue unsympathetic.Q: What if I don’t understand the forms?A: Ask the Inland Revenue. You can phone your local tax district to ask specific questions. And there is an out-of-hours helpline number 0645 000444 (open until 10 pm).Q: How long a job is this going to be?A: It’s difficult to say how long it will take you to get your documentation together. The estimates should be realistic and reasonably close to the final figure.

Make sure when you enter the figures on the form you say they are estimates and spell out the problem in the section left for “Additional Information”.Whatever you do, do not miss the 31 January deadline. Start now by finding out whether you have got all the forms you need. If you are missing any you can get them by phoning the Inland Revenue Orderline on 0645 000 404. You should also start gathering your documentation together, such as Form P60, certificates of interest paid for your mortgage, share dividend counterfoils and so on. You may need to ask your bank, building society, pension company and so on for particular information.Q: What shall I do if I am missing information?A: The Revenue will accept estimates. You must, however, provide accurate figures and documentation as soon as possible. If you still haven’t paid your tax by 28 February, you will also face an interest surcharge of 5 per cent of tax owed but not paid.Q: Is it too late to start completing my tax return?A: No You should still be able to get it completed on time.

Details should be in the local press, or phone up your local office to find out if you can drop it in by hand.Q: What do I have to get to the Inland Revenue?A: You have to send in your completed tax return for the previous tax year (1997/8), plus the tax calculation and a cheque for the amount of unpaid tax you have worked out that you owe the Revenue.You will also have to make your first interim payment of tax for the current tax year 1998/9 (you should have received a Statement of Account telling you how much that is).Q: If I don’t get my tax return in on time, what are the penalties?A: You will face an automatic pounds 100 penalty plus interest on your unpaid tax bill. So be certain to post it first-class, probably on Thursday 28 January.A lot of tax offices will be open on Saturday or Sunday depending upon staff agreeing to work. But don’t worry; we have the answers to all your questions

Q: When do I have to get the tax form in?
A: The rule is that the form has to be in the hands of the Inland Revenue on 31 January (a Sunday). The Revenue says that if your form is in their office when first thing Monday morning, then it’s on time If it’s not there, it’s late. It’s that time of year again – when the Inland Revenue’s new regime looms large on the horizon.

We need to investigate whether Jacqueline has been penalised as a result of changing her contributions, and if so, whether this can be reversed.We also suggest that you request a state pension forecast (by filling in DSS form BR19) to complete the picture, and allow us to identify additional sums that may be required.. The rest should be maintained for the time being.With the slightly uncertain nature of your business, I can understand the importance of paying any further pension contributions on a one-off basis, rather than continuing with a regular commitment. However, I would urge you to have each investment carefully analysed and consider selling only those holdings viewed as having no hope of growth over the short to medium term, and those which have provided good gains to date. You have a family who are financially dependent upon you both, and assets which will trigger an inheritance liability on the second death, therefore you should arrange for your wills to be written as a matter of urgency.Furthermore, the cost of life cover should also be investigated to replace that lost through the maturing policies and to provide an element of protection for the business.With the falls that you have suffered from the investments you have set up, particularly in Far Eastern sectors, I can quite appreciate you wanting to cut your losses by selling them. Before repaying the mortgage, therefore, I recommend you contact the bank manager to negotiate the interest rate they would charge you on a commercial mortgage.While you have deliberately held investment capital and income offshore, you are UK resident for tax purposes and as such are eligible to take out investments without full tax exposure, such as Tessas, Peps, National Savings and, from the new tax year, ISAs.With your attitude to investment risk, the Tessa would be an ideal place to start.Jacqueline has no will and Edward wrote his 24 years ago when he lived in New Zealand.