Self-Assessment Guide

Self-Assessment: An Introduction

The what, when, how and why of completing your self-assessment tax return.

At the end of the year, most people have other things on their minds than tax returns. It would be a stretch to say it’s an enjoyable experience, but getting self-assessment done and dusted as early as possible removes the stress of a last-minute submission and certainly makes the process more bearable.

This guide will give you the tools you need to submit your self-assessment tax return on time and error-free.

Self-assessment essentials

Self-assessment is the process by which individuals report and pay tax on income earned outside of formal employment.

Who needs to submit a tax return?

You will need to submit a self-assessment tax return if:

  • you earned an income from self-employment
  • you earned untaxed income of £2,500 or more (for example from renting property or from savings and investments)
  • you earned £10,000 or more from savings and investments
  • you made gains from selling assets subject to capital gains tax (such as shares, certain types of property)
  • you received share dividends while being a higher or additional rate taxpayer
  • you acted as a company director for a private business
  • your total income exceeded £100,000
  • you need to pay the high income child benefit tax charge
  • you earned untaxed income from abroad
  • you earned income in the UK while living overseas
  • you acted as a trustee for a trust or pension scheme.

What do you need to declare?

Your tax return must account for all of the income you received during the 2014/15 tax year. This includes but is not limited to:

Self-employed profits

All income generated by self-employment must be recorded on your return. Remember to include all tax-deductible expenses.

Employment income

Use the information detailed on your P60 (and P11D if applicable) to disclose income earned from employment. Any redundancy payments (even if they are not taxable) should also be declared.

Dividend income

You must declare any income earned from shareholdings. Currently, only higher and additional rate taxpayers are charged tax on dividend income. If you’re a basic rate taxpayer you don’t need to include your dividend tax credits on your tax return.

Rental income

All income earned from renting property needs to be recorded on your return. Don’t forget to list your property expenses in the designated section.

Interest

You will need to include any bank or building society interest you have received, making sure to state the gross and net interest, and any tax deductions made by the bank.

Capital gains

All gains and losses made on the sale of assets such as shares must be disclosed in the capital gains section.

Deadlines

Penalties

Missing the submission deadline is a serious issue. By doing so you run the risk of incurring the following fines:

  • an automatic £100 penalty for missing the deadline (for partnerships, £100 is charged to each partner on late filing of the partnership return)
  • daily fines of £10 will be charged for a period of up to 90 days if the deadline is missed by more than 3 months
  • further penalties will be added if you miss the deadline by more than six months and this will either be £300 or 5% of the estimated tax (whichever is greater)
  • interest is charged where the penalty is not paid within 30 days.

Should you miss the deadline, you can appeal against penalties within 30 days of the date of issue.

Hints and tips

Depending on how you go about it, self-assessment has the ability to be either a pleasant or traumatic experience. By anticipating the potential pitfalls, you’ll make the process easier.

Know your Unique Taxpayer Reference number

HMRC will have sent your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number when you first registered for self-assessment. You won’t be able to file your return without your UTR so it’s imperative you keep it safe and secure.

In case of loss, you will need to contact HMRC and wait several days to receive a new one through the post.

Leaving self-assessment until the last minute only to realise you’ve lost your UTR will inevitably result in a late submission.

Check everything

Check your form carefully to make sure your figures are correct and that you haven’t missed any important information. The smallest of mistakes could result in HMRC rejecting your return and issuing a penalty.

Use accounting software

Improving technology is fundamentally changing the way people handle their tax affairs. Purchasing bookkeeping software could help you organise your documents and calculate your income and expenditure.

Pay your tax

While this may sound obvious, it is surprisingly easy to forget – for first-timers especially. After digesting all of the rules surrounding self-assessment and then going through the painstaking process of collecting paperwork, doing calculations and filling out the form accurately, many people simply forget to pay their tax at the end of it all.

Remember, the 31 January deadline is not just for tax returns but for tax payment too.

Get expert help

Contact us if you’re still concerned about self-assessment. We will ensure that your calculations are correct, your tax is paid and your return is submitted on time and error-free.

Meet our experts

Anshu Mehan - Tax accountant Derby

Anshu Mehan FCA CTA TEP

Director - Taxation Services

Derby

Martin Tomes Tax Accountant Nottingham

Martin Tomes CTA

Director - Taxation Services

Nottingham

Jason Hancock

Senior Tax Manager

Derby

Becky Russan tax accountant Uttoxeter

Becky Russan

Tax Adviser

Uttoxeter

Jane Rees ATT

Taxation Services Assistant Manager

Derby

Gary Plumb

Taxation Services Senior

Nottingham

Davinder Talwar

Taxation Services Senior

Derby

Nazia Malik

Taxation Services Semi-Senior

Nottingham

So that’s us. What about you?

Drop us a line to discuss all things business, from your aims and ambitions to improvements you’d like to make in the short-term. We are here to help, so contact us to make a no-obligation appointment.