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You can use either the free HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Self Assessment service or commercial software to file online. Some commercial software is free and some you have to pay for. In some cases you may have to use commercial software, as the HMRC service doesn’t cover all of the online forms.
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You can send the main Self Assessment Tax Return (SA100) online free of charge using the HMRC Self Assessment service. You can also use this service to send the following pages online - these support your main tax return:
Bear in mind that the free HMRC Self Assessment service only covers the tax return and pages listed above.
If you want to send other tax returns online - for example the Trust and Estates Tax Return or the Partnership Return - or other supplementary pages - you'll need to use commercial software.
Find out how to start using the HMRC Self Assessment online filing service
Read more about filing Trust and Estates tax returns
You can send the following returns online using software from commercial suppliers (some of this software is free and some you have to pay for):
The commercial software products also allow you to send some or all of the following pages online - these support the SA100 tax return:
Follow the link below for a list of commercial software. Each software supplier has successfully demonstrated the ability to submit both the 2010-11 tax return and supplementary pages to HMRC. HMRC doesn't recommend any one particular product or service over another, so you'll have to choose for yourself. When you compare suppliers, you could look at things such as their extra features, ease of use and quality of support.
You still need to register to use HMRC Online Services before you can use commercial software to file your return online.
Self Assessment software from commercial suppliers
Understanding and using Self Assessment Online - find out how to register
Register for HMRC Online services
There is currently no service or software available for filing the following returns:
You have to send these as paper returns. Because you can't file them online, the deadline for these paper returns is the same as for online returns - 31 January.
Self Assessment deadlines - find out more
Read more about tax returns for trustees of registered pensions schemes
Whether you're using the free HMRC Self Assessment service or commercial software, you'll need to register to use HMRC Online Services before you can send your tax return online for the first time. You should allow at least seven days to do this. You'll need to have your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) to hand (find this on your tax return or Statement of Account) plus either your National Insurance number or your postcode.
HMRC Online Services - register as a new user
As well as sending your tax return online, you can view and amend your contact details and use secure email to ask HMRC a question. You can also see your latest Statement of Account and account history and find out:
Read more about using Self Assessment Online
If you use HMRC's free Self Assessment service, your work is saved securely as you work. Only you will be able to get at it, no one else (inside or outside HMRC) can look at your return until you've submitted it. You don't have to fill in your online tax return all in one go. You can fill in part of it then save it and come back later. You can also print it out if you want to.
If you use commercial software, you may be able to save your work on your own computer. If this feature's important to you, check that it's available before you choose your software.
The Online Services Helpdesk supports the free HMRC Self Assessment service (but not software from commercial suppliers).
Contact the Online Services Helpdesk
