It has been pointed out to me lately that lots of new businesses and sole traders do not know how to fill out a tax return correctly. Now I am no accountant; however, I have completed my tax return before, and this is what you need to do.

What Is A Tax Return?

Let’s cover the basics. A tax return is a form that you can fill in online or on paper that you fill in that details your taxable income, and any capital gains if appropriate. Also, you can claim tax allowances and tax reliefs through this form. HMRC (Her Majestys Revenue and Customs) may issue a tax return to you during each tax year. The tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April each year. When released a tax return it is the law that it must be filled in. This information that you provide HMRC works out your tax bill or whether you are due a tax refund.

Who Needs To Do A Tax Return?

You will need to fill in a tax return if you are a sole trader if you match any of this criteria:

• you were self-employed – you can deduct allowable expenses
• you got £2,500 or more in untaxed income, for example from tips or renting out a property – contact the helpline if it was less than £2,500
• your income from savings or investments was £10,000 or more before tax
• your income from dividends from shares was £10,000 or more before tax
• you made profits from selling things like shares, a second home or other chargeable assets and need to pay Capital Gains Tax
• you were a company director – unless it was for a non-profit organisation (such as a charity) and you didn’t get any pay or benefits, like a company car
• your income (or your partners) was over £50,000 and one of you claimed Child Benefit
• you had income from abroad that you needed to pay tax on
• you lived abroad and had a UK income
• your income was over £100,000
• you were a trustee of a trust or registered pension scheme
• you had a P800 from HMRC saying you didn’t pay enough tax last year – and you didn’t pay what you owe through your tax code or with a voluntary payment

Source: HMRC

Filling It In Online vs Paper

Apart from filling a physical form in and one digitally, what’s the difference between the two? If you fill in your paper form in and file it before the 31st October, HMRC guarantees to calculate your tax bill, and you will know the result before the payment date of 31st January following the end of the tax year. However, if you file it after the 31st October, HMRC cannot guarantee to give you the result before the 31st January.

You can find paper tax return forms to download on the GOV.UK website.

Now, to fill in a tax return online, first, you must register on GOV.UK website. Once completed you will receive a Personal Identification Number in the post; you have 28 days to activate your account using this PIN number, failing to do so will mean you have to go through the registration process again.

Completing the tax return online will ask you a series of questions to bring forward the relevant parts of the tax return (these have been carried out during the registration process). It will complete all the calculations for you automatically while providing on screen assistance as you go along filling the document. Your tax bill will be worked out automatically, and you will receive an acknowledgement that your tax return has been safely received.

I hope this helped to make the tax return process easier.

Nick Wetherell

Digital Marketing Assistant and Graphic Designer – yes I do more than just doodle all day.