This is the period to which the details provided of income and
expenses, tax adjustments and balance sheet, relate.
Relevant boxes (8 and 9 on the Self-employment (full) page
SEF 1) should be completed by the taxpayer to indicate the start
and end dates of the accounting period used.
On the Short Tax Return (SA200), box 3.4 should be completed
to enter the end date of the accounting period used by the taxpayer
to complete the details of self-employment income. The start date
of the period is not requested.
Basis Period
This is the period used to identify the profits which are
taxable in any particular tax year (normally the 12-month period up
to the annual accounting date).
Relevant boxes (64 and 65 on the Self-employment (full) page
SEF 4) should be completed by the taxpayer to indicate the start
and end dates of the income tax basis period.
In form SA200 cases you should only complete boxes 3.12A and
3.12B, to indicate the start and end dates of the income tax basis
period, where an entry has been made on the return in box 3.2 or
3.3.
Capture of Dates
In a few cases, the two sets of boxes (SEF 1 at 8 / 9 and
SEF 4 at 64 / 65) may properly contain different dates because the
accounting period and basis period will not always be the same.
However, in most cases the two sets of dates are the same.
Note: It is therefore not considered reasonable to reject a
return where datesare given in one set of boxes but not repeated in the other
set of boxes.
Further advice on unsatisfactory returns is available in subject ‘Unsatisfactory Individuals Returns’ ( SAM121260).
