If you have a tax adviser, you may want to ask them about Self Assessment. If you do not have a tax adviser, you can telephone your HMRC office - whose address and telephone number is on the front of your Tax Return - or you can contact one of our Enquiry Centres. Their addresses are in your local telephone book under 'HM Revenue & Customs'.
Most HMRC offices are open to the public from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and some are open outside these hours. When the HMRC office is closed, you can call the Self Assessment Helpline for general advice. The Helpline is open in the evenings and at weekends.
Everyone must by law keep records of their income, capital gains and expenditure for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year to which they relate, so that they can fill in a Tax Return fully and accurately if they get one.
People who have businesses, such as the self-employed, partners and those letting property, must keep their records for at least five years and ten months after the end of the tax year to which they relate.
Keeping good, well organised records will make it easier to complete your return.
Keep all your tax records in one place. It is a good idea to keep the papers for each year in a separate 'tax' file, large envelope or box.
Booklets SA/BK3 'A guide to keeping records for the self-employed' and SA/BK4 'A general guide to keeping records' are available on the 'Leaflets and Booklets' page, or from the Orderline on Tel 0845 9000 404.
We know it's easy to put off completing your Tax Return, but there's really no benefit in doing so. Did you know you can now send your Self Assessment Tax Return over the Internet?
When you receive your Tax Return, check to see that we have sent you the pages you need. Then think about what you need to do to complete it. If you have a tax adviser, check what information you need to provide and when they want it by.
Even if you are working out your tax bill yourself, it's not a good idea to wait until January to send in your Online Tax Return. This might mean you pay the wrong amount of tax because, if you have made a mistake, we may not have enough time to correct your calculation for you before your payment is due on 31 January.
Consider the benefits of doing your return early. If you send your return back by 30 October after the end of the tax year we will, if you wish:
You have to put figures in the necessary boxes. If you write such things as 'information to follow', or 'see attached accounts' or 'per PAYE' we will not accept your return as complete and we will send it back to you. You have to pay a penalty if we do not receive a complete return by the deadline.
Booklet SA/BK6 - 'Self Assessment - Penalties for late returns' are available on the 'Leaflets and Booklets' page, or from the Orderline.
Make a note in your diary or calendar so that you pay in good time. You will have to pay interest, and perhaps surcharges, if you pay late.
Booklet SA/BK7 - Self Assessment - 'Surcharges for late payment of tax' is available on the 'Leaflets and Booklets' page, or from the Orderline.
You will find it easier to manage your tax affairs if you keep them up-to-date. If you get behind, you may have to pay interest, surcharges and penalties. If you aren't clear about what you need to do, get in touch with your HMRC office or tax adviser.
Booklets SA/BK7 - 'Self Assessment - Surcharges for late payment of tax' and SA/BK6 - 'Self Assessment - Penalties for late returns' are available on the 'Leaflets and Booklets' page, or from the Orderline.
