The self-employed, company directors and people in receipt of non-PAYE income have five days left to pay their preliminary tax to the Revenue Commissioners.

About 290,000 people, mainly those who carry out their own trades, including farming and professions, are in this category and should pay their tax bill by November 1st to avoid incurring interest charges. If you are on the Revenue Commissioners' records as a liable taxpayer you will have received a notice of preliminary tax in the past six to eight weeks. However, if you have not and your circumstances have changed so that you now consider you have a liability, you are obliged to notify the tax office and pay preliminary tax.

Don't forget that preliminary tax includes PRSI, the health contribution and the employment and training levy.