Discussion
I'm sure I'm not the only one on PH to leave their tax return to the very last minute to deprive the tax man any money I owe him 
However, for the last tax year he actually owes me quite a few grand so instead of waiting until January as per usual I want to get in there early. Question is how do I do this as I have not been sent my usual SA forms (I usually use an accountant BTW).
Cheers
However, for the last tax year he actually owes me quite a few grand so instead of waiting until January as per usual I want to get in there early. Question is how do I do this as I have not been sent my usual SA forms (I usually use an accountant BTW).
Cheers
You must have been sent something. They should have sent you one or other of the following
a reminder letter regarding your return? They send these out instead of full blank returns sometimes.
a letter telling you that you didn't need to complete a Self Assessment return? They send these out sometimes ASSUMING that your circumstances were the same as last year. They are extremely dangerous letters as they might lure a tax payer into not completing a return when they may be legally obliged to do so.
a four page Short Return?
a reminder letter regarding your return? They send these out instead of full blank returns sometimes.
a letter telling you that you didn't need to complete a Self Assessment return? They send these out sometimes ASSUMING that your circumstances were the same as last year. They are extremely dangerous letters as they might lure a tax payer into not completing a return when they may be legally obliged to do so.
a four page Short Return?
Eric Mc said:
You must have been sent something. They should have sent you one or other of the following
a reminder letter regarding your return? They send these out instead of full blank returns sometimes.
a letter telling you that you didn't need to complete a Self Assessment return? They send these out sometimes ASSUMING that your circumstances were the same as last year. They are extremely dangerous letters as they might lure a tax payer into not completing a return when they may be legally obliged to do so.
a four page Short Return?
a reminder letter regarding your return? They send these out instead of full blank returns sometimes.
a letter telling you that you didn't need to complete a Self Assessment return? They send these out sometimes ASSUMING that your circumstances were the same as last year. They are extremely dangerous letters as they might lure a tax payer into not completing a return when they may be legally obliged to do so.
a four page Short Return?
Nothing Eric. I have submitted my return in January this year for the year due but as for the next year due I have not had anything!!
The best assumption is that you still have to fill one in. Certainly, if your circumstances were the same for 2005/06 as they were for 2004/05 - and you did complete a 2004/05 Self Assessment tax return, the safe option is to fill one in for 2005/06 as well.
As has been said, you can complete your return using the Revenue's "On Line" facility (although, as an accountant, I recognise all the legal and admin flaws that "On Line" filing entails).
My general opinion regarding On Line filing is that it is OK for individuals to complete their own returns On Line if they want to - but that I will not be completing tax returns On Line for my clients unless I am forced to do so by law (which may be the case in a few years time).
If you don't want to go down the On Line route, telephone your tax office and ask for a blank form to be sent out. Alternatively, chat to the accountant you used in previous years to see if he/she has any information pertaininmg to your tax position that you may not be aware of i.e he/she is sitting back waiting to complete your return and waiting for you to provide him/her with the usual information..
As has been said, you can complete your return using the Revenue's "On Line" facility (although, as an accountant, I recognise all the legal and admin flaws that "On Line" filing entails).
My general opinion regarding On Line filing is that it is OK for individuals to complete their own returns On Line if they want to - but that I will not be completing tax returns On Line for my clients unless I am forced to do so by law (which may be the case in a few years time).
If you don't want to go down the On Line route, telephone your tax office and ask for a blank form to be sent out. Alternatively, chat to the accountant you used in previous years to see if he/she has any information pertaininmg to your tax position that you may not be aware of i.e he/she is sitting back waiting to complete your return and waiting for you to provide him/her with the usual information..
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 19th June 22:52
And whether you got it right is absolutely non-guaranteed.
The system is extremely automated these days and does not really know whether you have put correct information on the return or not. It computes based on what you tell it - whether you are right or wrong..
I am absolutely sure that hundreds of millions of pounds are being over/underpaid in taxes these days because, at the HMRC end of things, there is very little knowledgeable human input going into tax return submissions and tax calculations these days. I have not had a single query or tax investigation raised in over two years of submissions of client tax returns - which amounts to almost 400 tax returns.
That would have been simply unheard of before the advent of Self Assessment in 1995/96.
The system is extremely automated these days and does not really know whether you have put correct information on the return or not. It computes based on what you tell it - whether you are right or wrong..
I am absolutely sure that hundreds of millions of pounds are being over/underpaid in taxes these days because, at the HMRC end of things, there is very little knowledgeable human input going into tax return submissions and tax calculations these days. I have not had a single query or tax investigation raised in over two years of submissions of client tax returns - which amounts to almost 400 tax returns.
That would have been simply unheard of before the advent of Self Assessment in 1995/96.
Eric Mc said:
And whether you got it right is absolutely non-guaranteed.
The system is extremely automated these days and does not really know whether you have put correct information on the return or not. It computes based on what you tell it - whether you are right or wrong..
I am absolutely sure that hundreds of millions of pounds are being over/underpaid in taxes these days because, at the HMRC end of things, there is very little knowledgeable human input going into tax return submissions and tax calculations these days. I have not had a single query or tax investigation raised in over two years of submissions of client tax returns - which amounts to almost 400 tax returns.
That would have been simply unheard of before the advent of Self Assessment in 1995/96.
The system is extremely automated these days and does not really know whether you have put correct information on the return or not. It computes based on what you tell it - whether you are right or wrong..
I am absolutely sure that hundreds of millions of pounds are being over/underpaid in taxes these days because, at the HMRC end of things, there is very little knowledgeable human input going into tax return submissions and tax calculations these days. I have not had a single query or tax investigation raised in over two years of submissions of client tax returns - which amounts to almost 400 tax returns.
That would have been simply unheard of before the advent of Self Assessment in 1995/96.
Whilst I agree entirely with this Eric, don't you think HMRC just see it as immaterial on the basis "some you win, some you lose" but feel they are about right overall. Not in the spirit or correctness of tax collection but a practical solution nonetheless?
Also, in the scale of things, isn't self-assessment tax income not that significant? The majority of "workers" are on PAYE which is generally correct and the large plc's etc will no doubt be more stringently checked?
Is the old saying of 90% of tax coming from 10% of taxpayers still about right?
If the Revenue takes the atitude that tax collecting is purely an overall economic exercise and that not collecting the correct tax from individuals is OK, then they have seriously lost the plot. Every individual is legally and ethically entitled to be treated fairly by the authorities. Gordon Brown is always harping on about people paying their "fair share" of tax - that means each individual pays the correct amount FOR THEM AS INDIVIDUALS, not for the country as a whole.
When you submit your tax return the legal expectation from both sides is that you have completed the return as accurately as possible with full and proper explanations included where necessary. That is what the legislation says. Anything less constitutes an illegal return. If the Revenue are accepting under-completed or incorrectly completed return without query, then they are neglecting THEIR statutory duty.
"Winning some" and "Losing szome" is just not good enough.
When you submit your tax return the legal expectation from both sides is that you have completed the return as accurately as possible with full and proper explanations included where necessary. That is what the legislation says. Anything less constitutes an illegal return. If the Revenue are accepting under-completed or incorrectly completed return without query, then they are neglecting THEIR statutory duty.
"Winning some" and "Losing szome" is just not good enough.
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