More than 298,900 people filed Self Assessment returns in the first week of the 2025-26 tax year, HM Revenue & Customs said, as it updated guidance urging taxpayers to get their paperwork in early rather than wait for January. April also set a new record, with almost 740,000 returns submitted over the month.

The pace matters because more than 12 million taxpayers are expected to file a 2025-26 return by 31 January 2027, and HMRC is trying to shift some of that pressure out of the winter rush. The department said people who owe tax can spread payments through a budget payment plan using weekly or monthly direct debits, while anyone who has overpaid can claim a refund as soon as the return has been processed. Taxpayers can also check the HMRC app to see whether a refund is due.

Myrtle Lloyd said early filing has become routine for many people and helps take pressure off January, leaving them free to focus on their business and the things they love. She also told taxpayers to make a start by searching “Self Assessment” on GOV.UK.

The push comes as HMRC faces another major change in how some people report income. From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with turnover above £50,000 will have to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and send quarterly summaries of income and expenses to HMRC. That system will expand again from April 2027 to cover sole traders and landlords with combined turnover of more than £30,000, although those within scope will still have to file an annual Self Assessment return.

The message is clear: the longer taxpayers leave it, the more they lose the advantage HMRC is trying to offer. For many, the practical choice now is not whether to file at all, but whether to do it early enough to spread the bill and get any refund back without waiting for the deadline.