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Who needs to complete a Self Assessment tax return?

Not everyone needs to complete a tax return. If your tax affairs are straightforward you may already pay all of the tax due on your earnings or pensions through your tax code.

But you may need to complete a tax return if you have more complicated tax affairs, even if you already pay tax through your tax code. There are also certain circumstances in which you will always need to complete a tax return - for example if you're:

• self-employed
• a company director
• a trustee
• receiving foreign income
  

• Tax returns - do you need to complete one

How to get a Self Assessment tax return

You need to register for Self Assessment before you can get a tax return. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will use the information you provide to set up the right records for you. They will then send you a ten-digit reference, called a Unique Taxpayer Reference. You will need to keep this safe.

HMRC will send you a letter each year, usually in April, telling you to complete your tax return. If you haven't received this letter or a tax return by the end of April, you should get in touch with HMRC.

You can send your tax return online or on paper. There are lots of benefits to sending it online. It's quick, easy and you have three months longer to send it. See the section 'sending your tax return online' below.

• Registering for Self Assessment to get a tax return

Tax return deadlines and penalties

If you send in a paper tax return, it must reach HMRC by midnight on 31 October. If you miss this deadline you should send your return online.

If you send in your tax return online it must reach HMRC by midnight on 31 January.

You will have to pay a £100 penalty if HMRC doesn't receive your tax return on time. The later you send your return, the more penalties you are likely to pay.

Follow the link below to find out more about:

• penalties for sending your return late
• interest and penalties for paying your tax late
• exceptions to the deadlines above

• Tax return deadlines and penalties

Sending your tax return online

Sending your tax return online has many advantages. For example your figures are calculated automatically and you will know right away what you owe or what HMRC owes you. Most tax returns can be sent online.

You need to sign up for HMRC Online Services first.

Once you have signed up, you can use HMRC's free Self Assessment service or you can buy commercial software to send your tax returns.

The free HMRC service doesn't provide certain tax returns online and you must use commercial software instead. These include:

• Partnership Tax Return
• Trust and Estate Tax Return
• some pages that support the main tax return, such as those for Lloyd's members and ministers of religion

• File your tax return online

Tax returns you can't send online

There is currently no commercial software or HMRC service for the following tax returns:

• SA700 - Non-resident Company Tax Return
• SA970 - Trustees of Registered Pension Schemes

You have to send these on paper instead. However, the deadline is the same as for online returns - 31 January.

• Self Assessment forms - menu Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Self Assessment and your tax return