October is a pretty innocuous month really, other than the onset of autumnal showers and cold northerly winds there's not too much to worry about, or is there?
Actually in the world of tax, there is I'm afraid. Not least the filing of your tax return by the end of this month, assuming of course you're doing it on paper rather than online. So, if you send a paper tax return it must reach HMRC by midnight on 31 October. So for the 2012-13 tax year (ending on 5 April 2013), the deadline for paper returns is midnight on 31 October 2013.
As for penalties, if you miss the deadline, the longer you delay, the more you'll have to pay. So it's important to send your tax return online to HMRC as soon as you can.
Of course, if you file your tax return online then you have until midnight on the 31 January, but beware as HMRC systems have failed before, so don't leave it until the last minute.
The other nasty little spike that has been inserted by the master inquisitors at HMRC (and the Treasury of course) this year is of course the Child Benefit Tax Charge. You may be liable to this new tax charge if you, or your partner, have an individual income of more than £50,000 and one of you gets Child Benefit or contributions towards the upkeep of a child.
If you are liable and have received a Child Benefit payment since 7 January then you must have registered for Self Assessment by 5 October 2013 to pay the charge. It is of course possible that HMRC could impose a penalty for failing to register, so if you haven't already get online and do it today at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefitcharge/ .
So, there's a fair bit more to worry about that just falling leaves and the onset of autumn.
