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How Self Assessment works

Most people pay tax on their earnings or pensions through PAYE (Pay As You Earn). Under PAYE the employer or pension provider deducts tax on behalf of HMRC, and you don't usually get a Self Assessment tax return.

But if you're not on PAYE, and/or are due to pay additional tax because of other income not taxed through PAYE (for example from property or investments above a certain amount, or because you're self-employed) you have to account for this income through Self Assessment. HMRC uses the figures you supply on the tax return to work out your tax bill, or you can work it out yourself. 

It's called 'Self Assessment' because you're responsible for making sure the details you provide are right.

Who gets a tax return and when?

Tax returns are usually sent out in early April, following the end of the tax year to which they apply. (A tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April.)

They may also go out at other times, for example, if you want to claim an allowance or repayment or you want to register for Self Assessment for the first time.

• More about Capital Gains Tax
• Latest HMRC guidance on who qualifies for Self Assessment (opens new window)

The two types of tax return

If you have simple tax affairs including, employees, pensioners and the self employed with turnover less than £15,000, you'll receive the short four-page return.

If your affairs are more complicated you'll receive the full return. This has twelve core pages and extra pages you may need to complete, depending on what sorts of income you get.

If you receive a return you must fill it in and send it back by the deadline even if you don't think you need one.

• Completing a tax return

Registering for Self Assessment

If you don’t receive a Self Assessment return but think you should, or your circumstances change, phone your Tax Office as soon as possible.

• Contact details for all Tax Offices (opens new window)

When your office is closed, you can ring the Self Assessment Helpline for general advice.  It is open 08:00 – 20:00, 7 days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

• Do you need to fill in a tax return?

Key Self Assessment deadlines

Reporting new income and gains

You only have six months from when the tax year ends to report any new income or capital gains. If you become self-employed you have three months after the calendar month in which you began self-employed work to let HMRC know.

• Change of circumstances: letting HM Revenue & Customs know
• Tax for the self-employed

Tax return filing and payment deadlines

There are key deadlines for filing (sending in) completed tax returns and paying the tax due. If you miss the filing deadline you may have to pay a penalty. You'll also have to pay interest, and sometimes an extra surcharge if you don't pay tax that's due on time.

If you file your tax return online the deadlines are more generous if you don't want to calculate the tax due yourself. It'll also be dealt with faster and you'll get any repayments due sooner.

• Tax return and payment deadlines
• How to file your tax return online

How your tax return figures are checked

HMRC has 12 months from the filing deadline to check and make enquiries about your return. Some of these checks are random, while others may be triggered because figures need further explanation.

They can also correct any obvious errors within nine months of receiving your return. They'll usually let you know on your tax calculation, but in some cases may call to clarify a point. You can ask for a review of any such changes within 30 days.

• Tax inspections and enquiries

More useful links

• More about Self Assessment (opens new window)
• Working and paying tax
• Tax on savings and investments
• Tax on property and rental income
• How to tell HMRC if your circumstances change