If your Self Assessment tax return still isn’t done, now’s the time to get it moving.
Every year the deadline creeps up, HMRC gets flooded with last-minute returns, and people end up stressed, rushed, and more likely to make mistakes. A bit of action now can save a lot of hassle later.
When’s the deadline?
For most people filing online, the deadline is the 31st January
(This is the deadline for both submitting your tax return and paying any tax due.)
What happens if you miss it?
HMRC late filing penalties can kick in automatically, even if you don’t owe any tax.
That usually starts with:
- £100 if you’re late
- further penalties if it continues
- interest on late payments
Remember: January can include a bigger payment than expected
Your January bill might include more than just “this year’s tax”.
Depending on your situation, it can also include:
- National Insurance (if applicable)
- Student Loan repayments (if relevant)
- Payments on account towards the next tax year
This is often why the January bill feels so high.
What you’ll need to file your return (roughly)
Before you start, it helps to pull together:
- income figures (self-employed, rental, dividends etc.)
- allowable expenses
- pension contributions / Gift Aid (if relevant)
- P60/P45 if you’ve also been employed
- your UTR and HMRC login details
Even getting this together now makes the process much easier.
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