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Advantages of sending your tax return online

There are lots of advantages to sending your tax return online:

• it's convenient, safe and secure - your account is encrypted, and protected by your chosen password and a unique User ID
• you get an instant acknowledgment as soon as HMRC receives your tax return
• your tax is worked out automatically, so you know what you owe or are owed right away
• HMRC can repay any money you are owed more quickly than if you send a paper return
• the deadline for online returns is later than for paper returns
• you can complete your tax return at your own pace, saving it as you go
• you can tailor your return, completing the right pages for your circumstances
• you can store your completed return online and print out a copy for your records
  
• you can view your Self Assessment payments and any amounts owed online
• if you are self-employed, you can view liabilities and payments for your business taxes too
• you can amend your contact details or use a secure email channel to ask HMRC a question
• you can pay by Direct Debit - it's safe and secure, and you're less likely to miss a payment deadline
  
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• Tax return deadlines and penalties - find out more

• Direct Debit payment - more information from HMRC Opens new window

Deciding which way to send your return online

You can use the free HMRC Self Assessment service or commercial software to send most tax returns online.

Some types of tax return are not covered by the free HMRC Self Assessment service, but you can buy commercial software to send them online. These include:

• SA900 - Trust and Estate Tax Return
• SA800 - Partnership Tax Return
• Your personal tax return if it includes certain additional pages, for example if you're non-resident

• Read more about the different ways you can file online

You need to be registered to use HMRC Online Services before you can send your tax return online for the first time. This applies whether you use the free HMRC service or commercial software. See the section below for more information about using HMRC Online Services for the first time.

Tax returns you can't send online

There is currently no free HMRC Self Assessment service or commercial software for sending the following returns, so you will need to send them on paper:

• SA700 – Tax Return for a non-resident company liable to Income Tax
• SA970 – Tax Return for Trustees of Registered Pension Schemes
  

Using HMRC Online Services for the first time

If you’re newly self-employed, HMRC will set up your Self Assessment Online account automatically when you register for business taxes.

If you're setting up a partnership, a Self Assessment Online account will automatically be set up for the Partnership.

In all other cases, you'll need to sign up to use HMRC Online Services yourself.

Information you need before you start

You'll need the following information:

• your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number
• either your postcode or National Insurance number (unless you live abroad)

You'll find your UTR on correspondence from HMRC. If you can't find it, you can contact the Self Assessment Helpline and ask for it to be sent to your home address. HMRC can't tell you your UTR over the phone.

If you haven't completed a tax return before (or it's been a while since you did), you may not have a UTR. You'll need to tell HMRC why you need a tax return, by registering for Self Assessment, so you can get a UTR.

• Registering for Self Assessment to get a tax return

• Contact the Self Assessment Helpline Opens new window

Signing up for Online Services

If you already have a Self Assessment tax record and a Unique Taxpayer Reference, getting online with HMRC is a three-stage process, you:

• sign up to use HMRC Online Services and select the relevant service(s) eg Self Assessment
• wait for your Activation Code to arrive - it'll be sent to your home address and usually takes around seven working days
• activate your account, you must do this within 28 days
  

If you register your new business online for HMRC taxes, on or after 11 April 2012, your Self Assessment Online account will have been set up for you automatically. You'll just need to wait for your Activation Code to arrive and then activate your account.

Why do you need to wait for an Activation Code?

This is an added security measure to make sure that only you can use your account.

• Sign up for Self Assessment Online Opens new window

If you've used Self Assessment Online before

If you have already registered for HMRC Online Services and activated your Self Assessment Online accounts, use the link below to log in and use Self Assessment Online.

• Log in to Self Assessment Online

If you have lost your User ID or password

If you can't find your ID or your password you can get a replacement. Go to the online services login page (see the link below), then follow the 'lost User ID' or 'lost password' links.

For security purposes you'll need to answer a number of questions before a replacement User ID or password is issued. Your ID or password will be sent to you by email, if you have provided a current email address, or by first class post.

If you have lost both your User ID and password please call the Online Services Helpdesk.

• HMRC Self Assessment Online login page

• Contact the Online Services Helpdesk Opens new window

Self Assessment Online service issues

For information on service availability and any technical issues with Self Assessment Online follow the links below. You’ll find the latest Self Assessment service availability details and information about any current service issues and how HMRC is dealing with them.

• Check the availability of the Self Assessment Online service Opens new window

• Self Assessment Online issues Opens new window

Online Services Helpdesk

If you have problems registering for Self Assessment Online, you can contact the HMRC dedicated Online Services Helpdesk.

• Contact the Online Services Helpdesk Opens new window

More useful links

• Self Assessment software from commercial suppliers Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Self Assessment and your tax return