Who must send a tax return

You must send a tax return if, in the last tax year (6 April to 5 April), any of the following applied: you were self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earned more than £1,000 (before taking off anything you can claim tax relief on) you were a partner in a business partnership you earned £100,000 or more You may also need to send a tax return if you have any untaxed income, such as: some COVID-19 grant or support payments money from renting out a property tips and commission income from savings, investments and dividends foreign income Check if you need to send a tax return if you’re not sure. Other reasons for sending a return You can choose to fill in a tax return to: claim some Income Tax reliefs prove you’re self-employed, for example to claim Tax-Free Childcare or Maternity Allowance If you get Child Benefit If your income (or your partner’s, if you have one) was over £50,000, you may need to send a return and pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge . If you no longer need to send a tax return You must tell HMRC if you believe you no longer need to send a tax return. If HMRC agrees, they’ll send a letter confirming you do not need to file a return. You may have to pay a penalty if HMRC do not agree before the Self Assessment deadline of 31 January. You might no longer need to send a return because, for example: you’re retired you’re no longer self-employed your income is below the threshold You can tell HMRC : online using HMRC ’s digital assistant by filing in an online form - you’ll need a Government Gateway account by phone or post You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number and your UTR number .

Registering and sending a return

You need to register if you did not send a tax return last year. There are different ways to register if you’re: self-employed or a sole trader not self-employed registering a partner or partnership If you’re new to Self Assessment, you’ll need to keep records (for example bank statements or receipts) so you can fill in your tax return correctly. Send your return Once you’ve registered, you need to send your Self Assessment tax return to HMRC . You can: file the return online use commercial software request a paper form You can get help filling in your return . If you need to send a tax return for trustees of a registered pension, you must download form SA970 . File your return online You can file your Self Assessment tax return online . The deadline for sending a return online is 31 January. Using commercial software You can use commercial software: for a partnership for a trust and estate if you get income from a trust if you lived abroad as a non-resident if you’re a Lloyd’s underwriter if you’re a religious minister to report profits made on selling or disposing of more than one asset (‘chargeable gains’) Find a commercial software supplier . Using a paper form For the main Self Assessment tax return, call HMRC and request form SA100 . You can download all other forms and supplementary pages . The deadline for sending a return using a paper form is 31 October (or 31 January if you’re a trustee of a registered pension scheme or a non-resident company). If you’re sending a tax return for the 2018 to 2019 tax year or earlier, get forms from the National Archives .

HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) must receive your tax return and any money you owe by the deadline. The last tax year started on 6 April 2022 and ended on 5 April 2023. Self Assessment Deadline Register for Self Assessment if you’re self-employed or a sole trader , not self-employed , or registering a partner or partnership 5 October 2023 Paper tax returns Midnight 31 October 2023 Online tax returns Midnight 31 January 2024 Pay the tax you owe Midnight 31 January 2024 There’s usually a second payment deadline of 31 July if you make advance payments towards your bill (known as ‘ payments on account ’). You’ll usually pay a penalty if you’re late. You can appeal against a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse . When the deadline is different Submit your online return by 30 December if you want HMRC to automatically collect tax you owe from your wages and pension. Find out if you are eligible to pay this way . HMRC must receive a paper tax return by 31 January if you’re a trustee of a registered pension scheme or a non-resident company. You cannot send a return online. HMRC might also email or write to you giving you a different deadline. Partnership returns if you have a company as a partner If your partnership’s accounting date is between 1 February and 5 April and one of your partners is a limited company, the deadline for: online returns is 12 months from the accounting date paper returns is 9 months from the accounting date 2021 to 2022 tax year and earlier The Self Assessment deadline for these tax years has passed. Send your tax return or payment as soon as possible - you’ll have to pay a penalty .

You’ll get a penalty if you need to send a tax return and you miss the deadline for submitting it or paying your bill. You’ll pay a late filing penalty of £100 if your tax return is up to 3 months late. You’ll have to pay more if it’s later, or if you pay your tax bill late. You’ll be charged interest on late payments. Estimate your penalty for Self Assessment tax returns more than 3 months late, and late payments. You can appeal against a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse . All partners can be charged a penalty if a partnership tax return is late.

If you need to change your return

You can make a change to a tax return after you filed it, for example because you made a mistake. Your bill will be updated based on what you report. You may have to pay more tax or be able to claim a refund. There’s a different process if you need to report foreign income . Updating your tax return You can correct a tax return within 12 months of the Self Assessment deadline , online or by sending another paper return. Example For the 2021 to 2022 tax year, you’ll usually need to change your return by 31 January 2024. If you miss the deadline or if you need to make a change to a return from an earlier tax year you’ll need to write to HMRC . Online tax returns You must wait 3 days (72 hours) after filing before updating your return. Sign in using your Government Gateway user ID and password . From ‘Your tax account’, choose ’Self Assessment account’ (if you do not see this, skip this step). Choose ‘More Self Assessment details’. Choose ‘At a glance’ from the left-hand menu. Choose ‘Tax return options’. Choose the tax year for the return you want to amend. Go into the tax return, make the corrections and file it again. Paper tax returns For the main Self Assessment tax return, call HMRC and request form SA100 . You can download all other forms and supplementary pages . You then need to send HMRC the corrected pages. Write ‘amendment’ on each page, and include your name and Unique Taxpayer Reference ( UTR ) - this is on previous tax returns or letters from HMRC . Check your Self Assessment paperwork for the address. If you cannot find this, send your corrections to the address for general Self Assessment enquiries . If you used commercial software Contact the software provider for help correcting your tax return. Contact HMRC if your software is not able to make corrections. Write to HMRC You must write to HMRC if you’ve missed the deadline to make changes or you need to make a change to another tax year. You’ll also need to write HMRC a letter to: claim overpayment relief report income you did not include in your tax return You can claim a refund up to 4 years after the end of the tax year it relates to. What to include You must include: the tax year you’re correcting why you think you’ve paid too much or little tax how much you think you’ve over or underpaid your signature (no one else can sign on your behalf) If you’re making a claim, also include in your letter: that you’re making a claim for overpayment relief proof that you’d paid tax through Self Assessment for the relevant period how you want to be repaid that you have not previously tried to claim back this refund a signed declaration saying that the details you’ve given are correct and complete to the best of your knowledge Changes to your bill You’ll see your amended bill straight away if you updated your tax return online. Within 3 days, your statement will also show: the difference from the old one, so you can see whether you owe more or less tax any interest To view this, sign in using your Government Gateway user ID and password and choose ‘View statements’ from the left-hand menu. If you’re owed tax To claim a refund, go to ‘Request a repayment’ from the left-hand menu within your HMRC online account. Allow 4 weeks for your refund to be sent to your bank account. You may not get a refund if you have tax due in the next 35 days (for example for a payment on account ). Instead, the money will be deducted from the tax you owe. If you need to pay more tax Your updated bill will also show: the deadline for paying the effect on any payments on account you need to make If you sent an updated paper return HMRC will usually send you an updated bill within 4 weeks. It’s taking longer than usual to process changes. You can check when you can expect a reply from HMRC . They’ll pay any refund directly into your bank account, as long as you include your bank details on your tax return.

If you need help with Self Assessment, you can: appoint someone to fill in and send your tax return, for example an accountant, friend or relative - you can find an accountant accredited in the UK watch videos and join webinars ask HMRC ’s digital assistant contact HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) for general Self Assessment enquiries get technical help with your online account Help filling in your return There’s introductory guidance on GOV.UK to: Capital Gains Tax if you’ve sold certain things like property or shares expenses if you’re an employee or self-employed Child Benefit if your income’s over £50,000 tax on income from renting property tax on savings interest tax returns for business partnerships tax on income from abroad - or on your UK income if you live abroad Guidance notes and helpsheets You can also read guidance in: the notes for each section of the tax return, for example ‘ UK property notes ’ if you’re completing that section HMRC ’s Self Assessment helpsheets

Returns for someone who has died

You must complete a Self Assessment tax return for someone who’s died if HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) has asked you to and sent you a form. If you have not already told HMRC about a death you must do this as soon as possible. Use the Tell Us Once service to let HMRC and other government organisations know about the death. Filling in the return You’ll usually need details of the deceased’s bank and savings accounts, for example: bank statements building society pass books dividend vouchers National Savings bonds or certificates If the deceased was employed or receiving a pension you’ll usually need: work or pension payslips details of any expenses paid by the employer confirmation of any state pension You’ll also need details of any other income they had, for example if they rented out property or ran their own business. Contact HMRC’s Bereavement helpline if you need help completing a return for someone who has died or if you cannot find their records. Sending the return Send the completed Self Assessment form by post . The return must reach HMRC by the date given in the letter you received with the form. You can hire a professional (such as an accountant) to help you submit a tax return on behalf of the deceased. If you’re dealing with the estate of someone who’s died If you’re a personal representative (an executor or administrator) of an estate you may also need to both: register with HMRC send a separate tax return on behalf of the estate Find out more about dealing with an estate .

Self Assessment tax returns

Overview

Self Assessment is a system HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses to collect Income Tax.

Tax is usually deducted automatically from wages and pensions. People and businesses with other income (including COVID-19 grants and support payments) must report it in a tax return.

If you need to send a Self Assessment tax return, fill it in after the end of the tax year (5 April) it applies to.

You must send a return if HMRC asks you to.

You may have to pay interest and a penalty if you do not file and pay on time.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Sending your return

File your tax return online or call HMRC and request form SA100.

Deadlines

Send your tax return by the deadline.

If you did not send an online return last year, allow extra time (up to 20 working days) as you’ll need to register first. There are different ways to register if you’re:

Filling in your return

You need to keep records (for example bank statements or receipts) so you can fill in your tax return correctly.

You can get help filling in your return.

Paying your bill

HMRC will calculate what you owe based on what you report.

Pay your Self Assessment bill by 31 January.

How much tax you pay will depend on the Income Tax band you’re in. There’s a different rate for Capital Gains Tax if you need to pay it, for example you sell shares or a second home.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Self Assessment tax returns

Overview

Sending your return

Deadlines

Filling in your return

Paying your bill

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Self Assessment tax returns

Overview

Sending your return

Deadlines

Filling in your return

Paying your bill

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