Check if you need to file a return with the Revenue
Last year 530,000 people filed an income tax return. You need to file a tax return by the end of this month (October 31). If you are filing online you have until Tuesday, November 16. You will need to file a return if:

• You are self-employed;
• Have rental income;
• Foreign income;
• Profits from exercising share options;
• Have investment income, such as dividends or deposit interest;
• Are getting maintenance payments from a separated spouse;
• You are a PAYE worker but have non-PAYE (pay as you earn) income.

Pay now on last year’s earnings
By the deadline you must file your tax return for 2009. You must also pay any balance of tax due for 2009.
Also required is that you make a preliminary payment of income tax due for 2010. ou will also need to file details of any capital gains arising in 2009.

Your preliminary income tax payment for 2010 can be based on:

• 90pc of your tax liability for 2010;
• 100pc of your liability for 2009;
• 105pc of your liability for 2008 where you pay by direct debit.

A surcharge of up to 10% is levied on late returns.

This year is different
The controversial income levy was introduced in 2009, and applies to all income.
Rates vary between 1.67pc and 5pc depending on your level of income.
This is payable in addition to PRSI (pay related social welfare), health levy and income tax.
For those in receipt of employment income, the income levy will have been deducted from your salary through the payroll. But for those with self-employed, or untaxed income in addition to PAYE income, the income levy is applied to gross income.

If you are having difficulties
This year's pay and file deadline could be difficult for many for non-tax reasons also.
Changes in individuals' circumstances such as redundancy and pay cuts are also set to hit hard.
Unemployment has surged to 449,600, with a 27pc rise in joblessness among the professional classes. And it is increasingly difficult to access credit so there may be difficulty in borrowing to pay a tax liability.

Revenue may allow you to pay in monthly instalments.
Even if you can’t pay the tax, do make a return. Also, talk to the Revenue people if you cannot meet the pay bill.
Collector General Gerry Harrahill said recently the Revenue was sympathetic to occasional cash flow difficulties caused by exceptional events. “But it cannot, and will not, accept an ongoing failure to meet tax commitments, and allow a business to continue to trade and accumulate further debts,” he said.