January: Deal with the urgent stuff
The New Year isn't just about giving up chocolate, alcohol and smoking – it's also the time for some positive changes. In the current economic climate, top of your list should be learning to look after your finances.
Plan properly and it won't be as hard as you think. Here are some dates for your diary.
If you're self-assessed for tax, you must file your tax return and pay any taxes you owe by 31 January or you'll be fined. Go to hmrc.gov.uk and the site will automatically calculate what you owe or are owed when you file online. Make a note to yourself if you're likely to owe the taxman less than £2,000 – you can have this collected via your PAYE code if you file by 30 December.
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