THE South East’s 900,055 small businesses are urged to sign up to an easy-to-use forum to get top tax tips.

With the midnight January 31 deadline for self-assessment tax returns to be filed online approaching, businesses are urged to join HM Revenue and Custom’s (HMRC) Small Business Online Forum.

It is hosting question-and-answer help sessions throughout January on how to file, paying taxes for the first time, and how to use HMRC’s digital services.

The sessions are aimed at new enterprises and start-ups but any self-employed individual or new business can sign up to the forum, which launched in August.

The sessions, where questions are answered by HMRC specialists, are on Thursday, January 18, from 1pm-2pm, and Friday, January 26, from 1pm-2pm.

Businesses can also share their experiences and knowledge on the forum. To sign up, visit online.hmrc.gov.uk.

Any businesses looking for self-assessment advice can also access HMRC’s YouTube videos and webinars through the forum.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s customer services director general, said: “The Small Business Online Forum is a vital tool full of great advice and handy hints to make life a little easier for those starting up in business.

“All small firms should take advantage of the question-and-answer sessions, especially with the self-assessment deadline approaching at the end of January.”

The deadline for sending 2016-17 tax returns to HMRC, and paying any tax owed, is January 31.