Many people don’t like to hear the ‘C’ word mentioned until at least December. However, if you’re self-employed, now’s the time to start thinking about the festive period, particularly with regards to submitting your Self-Assessment tax return (SATR). Here’s all you need to know:

 

What is a SATR?

Self Assessment tax return or SATR is the system by which HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collect tax on your income.
Whereas tax is typically deducted automatically from wages, savings and pensions. If you’re self-employed, it’s your responsibility to declare taxable income and to notify HMRC that you need a tax return form. Fail to complete a return when necessary and you’ll receive a penalty.

 

Who needs to complete a Self-Assessment tax return?

If you can say yes to one or more of the below criteria for the last tax year (6 April 2017 to 5 April 2018), it’s highly likely you’ll need to complete a SATR:

You were self-employed and your income was over £1,000
You received over £2,500 from renting out property
You’re a partner in a partnership. The Partnership will have to file a return, too
You’re a company director
Your annual income was £100,000 or more
Your annual income was £50,000 or more, and you or your partner was in receipt of child benefit
You received over £2,500 in other untaxed income, such as commission or tips
You needed to claim expenses or reliefs, or you’re a trustee
You had Capital Gains Tax to pay, for instance if you sold shares or a second home
You had £10,000 or more in dividends or from other investments
You had income from abroad you needed to pay tax on

If HMRC send you a return to complete but you find none of the above apply to you, you should get in contact with HMRC as it may be an error.

 

What are the deadlines this year?

You have to submit returns for tax years, not calendar years. Meaning, this return will be to declare tax on income and gains from 6 April 2017 to 5 April 2018. The deadlines for submitting the returns are as follows.

5 October 2018 for registering for Self Assessment if you have never submitted a return before
31 October 2018 for submitting a paper tax return
31 January 2019 for submitting an online tax return (you need to submit your online return by 30 December 2018 if you want HMRC to automatically collect tax owed from your wages and pensions, however you must be eligible)
31 January 2019 for paying all of the tax you owe

 

What are the penalties?

If you need to file a return but it’s up to three months late, you’ll receive a penalty of £100, with this sum increasing the longer you leave it. If a partnership tax return is late, all partners will have to pay a penalty.

 

What if you make a mistake?

If you realise that you’ve made a mistake on your tax return, don’t fret – you’re able to make amendments after you’ve filed it. But the deadlines are as follows:

31 January 2019 for the 2016-17 tax year
31 January 2020 for the 2017-18 tax year

 

Partnering with Intouch

If you’re one of our clients, your dedicated Personal Accountant will have already been in touch to guide you through the process and make sure you know exactly what needs to be submitted.

We offer complimentary completion of a SATR for one employee as part of our comprehensive fixed fee accounting services for contractors. If you want to find out about the many other features of this plan, or about the benefits of partnering with Intouch contractor accountants, call 01202 375758 today.

 

 

This blog has been prepared by Intouch Accounting. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this blog has been obtained from reliable sources, Intouch is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This blog should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting advisers. If you have any specific queries, please contact Intouch Accounting.

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