TAX offices in Oxfordshire are opening specially on Saturday to give last-minute help and advice as the deadline looms for filing 1996-97 tax returns.

Nationally an estimated two million tax returns have still not been returned, despite the threat of fines.

If the Inland Revenue does not receive completed tax returns by Saturday, taxpayers face an automatic fixed penalty of £100.

If the returns remains outstanding six months after the deadline, a further automatic £100 penalty will be charged.

The Inland Revenue is stressing that although offices are opening specially this weekend, staff will only be able to deal with specific queries on the day.

They won't be able to sit down with people to complete whole returns or calculate tax.

Roger Print, customer service manager at Oxford, said: "We want all our customers to send their returns on time so that the question of penalties will not arise.

"If people need help with their tax returns they should contact their tax office or self-assessment helpline straight away."

Oxford tax office, in Marston Road, will be open from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and the Banbury office, in Southam Road, will be open from 9am to 5pm.

The Oxford tax office can be contacted on 01865 264300. The self assessment helpline is open in the evenings on 0645 000 444.

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