In this section:
- Understanding and using Self Assessment Online
- Software you can use for your tax return
- List of commercial tax return software
- Self Assessment Online login page
- Help with using Self Assessment Online
Help with using Self Assessment Online
There are lots of resources available to help you use HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Self Assessment Online service, including a step-by-step guide, help buttons built into the software, resources for the visually disabled and telephone helplines.
On this page:
- Help built into the Self Assessment Online service
- Help accessing the online service
- Help registering
- Step by step guide
- Helplines and Enquiry Centres
- More useful links
Help built into the Self Assessment Online service
HMRC's online service has help icons all the way through to answer your questions as you complete your return.
If you want to see how the service works before you fill in your return online, follow the link below to see a demonstration with examples covering self-employed people, pensioners and employees.
Self Assessment Online demonstration – view the demonstration
Help accessing the online service
Our Online service is designed to meet W3C AA standards for website accessibility.
Read the HMRC Accessibility statement
If you have visual or other disabilities the Online Services Helpdesk (see ‘Telephone helplines’ below) can help you customise the online filing screens to meet your needs.
Help registering
Our online guide ‘Understanding and using Self Assessment Online’ contains useful information about how to register (you need to register with us before you can file your return online), what to do if you have lost your login details, and more about the benefits of filing online.
You can also download our leaflet ‘Online filing is now even easier’, which explains the benefits of filing online, and tells you how to register.
Read our leaflet Online filing is now even easier (PDF 110K)
Step by step guide
Our leaflet ‘How to complete your tax return online’ is a step by step guide aimed at customers who are filing online for the first time or who are unsure about how the new filing service works. It covers:
- Getting started - how to activate your PIN (this needs to be done within 28 days of the date on the Government Gateway letter). We suggest you do this right away - if you don’t do it on time, you’ll have to re-register.
- A walk-through of the online return service. It’s quick and easy but a bit different from the paper form, so it helps to understand what’s going on at each stage.
- A step-by-step guide through each stage of the return, showing the main screens you will use and what to do with them.
- An overview of key features and how to use them - including saving work done so far and printing copies.
- Help/support available to help you complete your return online.
- How to pay electronically. It’s safe and secure and, because you can pay a little later, it can help your cash flow too.
You can download a PDF version of the leaflet, to print yourself by following the links below. It is split into five sections, including a covering letter which introduces the guide
Go to ‘Self Assessment Online: A step-by-step guide – Covering letter (PDF 250K)’
Go to ‘Self Assessment Online: A step-by-step guide - Getting started (PDF 199K)’
Go to ‘Self Assessment Online: A step-by-step guide Useful features (PDF 363K)’
Go to ‘Self Assessment Online: A step-by-step guide - Help and contacts (PDF 59K)’
Or you can order paper versions of the leaflets – which are available in a number of formats for people with visual disabilities - by calling the SA Orderline on 0845 9000 404. Leaflets are also available from our Enquiry centres.
Find an HMRC Enquiry Centre near you
Helplines and Enquiry Centres
There are dedicated telephone helplines for our Online Services and Self Assessment.
Online Services Helpdesk
Contact our Online Services Helpdesk for help and advice about the Self Assessment Online service. The helpline offers help and advice on problems in using your computer and about our online service itself.
Telephone: 0845 60 55 999 (Minicom: 0845 366 7805). Open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm. Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Self Assessment Helpline
Contact the Self Assessment Helpline about any tax issues that come up when you complete your Self Assessment Tax Return.
Telephone: 0845 9000 444. Open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm. Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
HMRC Enquiry Centres
You can also get help and advice with your Self Assessment tax return at our Enquiry Centres.
Find an HMRC Enquiry Centre near you
More useful links
Log in to or register for Self Assessment Online
Self Assessment Online – find out more about the benefits and how to register
Find out about any current technical problems with Self Assessment Online
