Inland Revenue - Self-assessment

"It's all too easy to think that, as it's only tax, it can wait till next week to be sorted out. Well, next week has now arrived."

These chilling words from the Inland Revenue heralded the beginning of self-assessment at a photocall this week to encourage taxpayers to "get up to date before it gets down to penalties".

The Revenue fielded four self-employed people who volunteered to stand in goal and try to save penalties, to illustrate the Revenue's important advice.

But the Revenue scored an own-goal when it placed solicitor Karen South from London in the 12-yard box.

Far from "suffering the penalties" Karen in fact managed to save three out of five of them. Perhaps there's a message there for all of us.