Record numbers file tax returns online

Self-assessment site shows more than 50 per cent growth on last year

HMRC is growing its online channel

Almost 5.8 million people filed self-assessment tax returns online this year, an increase of more than 50 per cent on the 3.8 million in 2008, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The surge in the use of the online channel is changing the way in which the organisation provides its customer services, according to David Hartnett, permanent secretary for tax at HMRC.

"The outstanding popularity of online filing demonstrated by today's figures is the foundation on which we are transforming the way taxpayers interact with us," he said.

Sixty-seven per cent of all self-assessment tax returns were filed online this year, with the peak online filing period coming last Friday, when HMRC's systems received 390,000 online returns.

Welcoming the figures, financial secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms, said: "I am delighted that more and more people are recognising the benefits of filing their tax return online. Online returns make it easier and quicker to calculate how much tax you owe, and you can pay online too."

Earlier this month, Computing revealed security fears expressed by some users that their passwords were being shown in the URL address on the HMRC self-assessment web site.