Londoners top the list of taxpayers most likely to miss tax return deadlines according HMRC, with those who live in the inner city the most prone to being late with their paperwork.

HMRC figures show 11% of the 560,000 people in inner London who had to send in a tax return last year failed to meet the relevant deadline for either paper or online submission. In comparison, the 1m taxpayers in outer London were more punctual, with 9% hitting the correct date, although they were still the second worst offenders.

Outside the capital, the tardiest taxpayers were in the North West of England, with 8% of their 890,000 returns failing to come in on time.

Elsewhere HMRC says taxpayers in the rest of the English regions did better at keeping their affairs in order. The most punctual were in the South West, with only 6% of their 1m tax returns arriving late. The other English regions, as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, all registered 7% of late tax returns, which is the UK national average.

Ruth Owen, HMRC director general of personal tax, said: 'Whether you're from London, Livingston or Llandudno, the consequences of missing the tax return deadline are the same - an automatic £100 late-filing penalty. The longer you delay, the more you have to pay.'

Anyone with an outstanding 2012-13 tax return must send it online, and pay any tax they owe, by 31 January 2014.

HMRC is advising taxpayers who plan to use HMRC's online service to make sure they type the HMRC website address directly into their internet browser's web address bar. It warns that using a search engine can produce results which include third party websites that charge for filing on someone's behalf. There is more advice at www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa or by calling the Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310.