Taxpayers who have failed to submit tax returns are being offered the chance to come forward and pay up under a new HM Revenue and Customs campaign. It is aimed at people who have received a self-assessment tax return or notice to complete a tax return for any year up to 2011-12 but have not responded.

HMRC will be contacting about 1,092 people across Yorkshire, including 461 in West Yorkshire, who it has identified using intelligence-gathering software and will follow up with calls to many of them.

Marian Wilson, HMRC’s head of campaigns, said: “This is definitely the best time to catch up, on the best possible terms. While some penalties will apply, it is likely to cost people more if we have to find them rather than them coming to us. It is easy to take part.”

HMRC Campaigns have so far raised £547m from voluntary disclosures and nearly £140m from follow-ups, including 20,000 completed investigations.

After October 15 those who have not submitted returns and paid the tax due will face penalties of up to 100 per cent of the tax and possibly a criminal investigation.

Help is available at hmrc.gov.uk/campaigns/forms or on 0845 601 8818.