£5 million is due to be spent on a high-profile media campaign advising taxpayers of the new self-assessment deadlines.

For the first time, taxpayers completing paper returns have to submit them on or before October 31.

Taxpayers filing online have until January 31. The tax payment date for paper and electronic returns remains Januarys 31.

‘There won’t be a man, woman or child who won’t know about the new deadline as a result of the campaign,’ said an HM Revenue and Customs spokesman.

It's rumoured that former BBC newscaster Moira Stuart is to front the campaign.

More than nine million people are required to file a tax return – and so far this year almost a million people have already filed online.