Unfortunately HMRC’s build-up to the answer to my question wasn’t worth waiting 16 weeks for! In a nutshell, they said

Although I can confirm that the information is held by HMRC, I am not prepared to release it to you because it is exempt information under the FOIA. The cost to HMRC of using Moira Stuart to publicise SA deadlines is information related  to an identifiable individual and constitutes personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. Such information is exempt from disclosure.

The full reply is here.

After (only) 16 weeks and numerous reminders, HMRC have responded to my Freedom of Information request asking how much they paid Moira Stuart for the Self Assessment advertising campaign by saying

I can confirm that HMRC will be providing you with a further response.  I expect you should have the response by this Friday.

Bearing in mind they should have replied within 20 working days (unless there’s a good reason),  this exemplifies, once again, HMRC’s “couldn’t care less” attitude to the public, as personified by Dave Hartnett.

Leaving aside the question of ‘Where do I get the money from?’, the date for paying your (Self Assessment) tax is approaching fast.

To pay online you’ll need  your Self Assessment reference and a note of the amount you have to pay.

Log on to your internet banking and select ‘HM Revenue & Customs’ from your bank/building society’s beneficiary  list (which is sometimes called a ‘payee list’) or use HMRC’s bank account details to set up a manual instruction. When using your bank or building society’s beneficiary list, take care in selecting the correct HMRC entry for the payment you want to make.

If you’ve lost your Self Assessment reference number, also referred to as your unique taxpayer reference (UTR), you’ll find this on your payslip and on any correspondence sent to you by HMRC – including the ‘Notice to complete a Tax Return’ if you file online, or on your paper tax return.

The reference number is made up of 11 characters, for example: 1234567890K. You can make sure you have the correct reference by using HMRC’s Self assessment reference checker.

HMRC have made a blank payslip available online for all those taxpayers who pay by cheque and have lost their personal payslip.

The form can be completed and printed here.

HMRC have issued a press release today titled

There’s just one week left to send your 2010/11 tax return to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), if you want to avoid a penalty.

Obviously what HMRC say is correct but the important part of the message is hidden in the final paragraph and, to add insult to injury, states how wonderful HMRC are!

HMRC’s systems are able to cope with these large volumes of online returns

Don’t fall for this. HMRC’s systems are quite likely to fail and you may be unable to submit your return on time if you leave it until January 31. Worse still, it isn’t out of character for HMRC to use this press release to refuse any requests for a penalty to be cancelled, on the basis of  “we told you so”.

Don’t take the risk submit it sooner rather than later.