Self Assessment tax returns
Sending a return
You can send a tax return by either:听
- submitting an online return听听
- sending a paper return听
You can get help filling in your return.听
When to send your tax return听
Check the filing deadlines. The deadline for sending a paper return is before the deadline for an online return.听
You can send your return any time after 5 April. Sending it earlier means you:听
- find out what you owe听
- can budget - if you want to make weekly or monthly payments听
- have time to pay your bill by 31 January听
- can set up a payment plan, if you do not think you can pay on time
If you do not know your profit for the whole tax year听听
You might not know what your profit will be for the whole tax year if, for example:听听
- your 鈥榓ccounting period鈥� ends at a different time to the end of the tax year听
- your 鈥榓ccounting period鈥� is different to your 鈥榖asis period鈥櫶�
- you鈥檙e waiting for a valuation听
An 鈥榓ccounting period鈥� is the period which a business鈥檚 accounts are made up to (often 12 months) and gives the business year end. This can be different to the period used to identify the profits taxable in any particular tax year (also known as a 鈥榖asis period鈥�).听
If you do not know what your profit will be for the whole tax year before the reporting deadline, you should work out what it鈥檚 likely to be (known as 鈥榩rovisional figures鈥�) and include those.听
You should tell HMRC that you鈥檝e used provisional figures when you submit your return.听
When you find out what your profit was for the whole tax year, you鈥檒l need to 鈥�change your return. You have 12 months from the Self Assessment deadline to make these changes.听
If more tax is due, you鈥檒l need to pay interest on the difference between your estimates and the final figures. The interest will be worked out from the original due date for payment. If you have overpaid tax then you鈥檒l get interest paid to you.听
Submit an online return听听
You can file your Self Assessment tax return online.
Send a paper return听
If you need a paper copy of the main Self Assessment tax return you can:听
If you need to send a tax return for trustees of a registered pension, you must download form SA970.听
You can download all other forms and supplementary pages.听
After sending your paper return, you can check when to expect a reply from HMRC.听
Use commercial software to send a return听
You can use commercial software:听
- for a partnership听
- for a trust and estate听
- if you get income from a trust听
- if you lived abroad as a non-resident听
- if you鈥檙e a Lloyd鈥檚 underwriter听
- if you鈥檙e a religious minister听
- to report profits made on selling or disposing of more than one asset (鈥榗hargeable gains鈥�)听