Why do I say "Submit Electronically"?

Is it better to manage your tax returns via the post or electronically?

Having been working with HMRC since August (and the final piece just got sorted today) to share material between each other by post - I will always recommend electronic if at all possible:

- the electronic submission you know has worked - or not;

- nobody is scanning or rekeying data so it cannot get mistranscribed; and

- it avoids a trip to La Poste with a printed document and sending with proof of delivery.  Which is the only way I managed to get documents to the UK and even then the proof of delivery never returned.  The online printing service of La Poste also does not seem to make a difference.

Unfortunately this will only work for current or one year prior tax returns.  Beyond this it is back to paper.

My current record for things that did turn up is five weeks for a Priority letter to come from the UK to France - this was one piece of paper in an envelope.  I do not blame HMRC for this - but something clearly is not right.

Sadly, for whatever reason (do not blame the staff on the helpline, its not their fault) HMRC do not copy Impots and have a comprehensive secure messaging service.  The HMRC App isn't bad but it could go so much further - would likely save many calls to the helpline and lots more paper and postage.