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Filling in the short tax return

If your tax affairs are straightforward you might qualify for the short tax return rather than the longer full one. If you do, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sends it to you.

The short tax return is only four pages long and the accompanying notes will help you fill it out. It cannot be submitted online. If you prefer to submit your tax return online you have to complete the full return instead.

The records you'll need to complete the short return are similar to the ones you'll need for the core pages of the full return. To find out more go to 'Step three - complete the core pages'.

• More about the short tax return Opens new window

Filling in your tax return online

You can fill in the full tax return on paper or complete it online.

If you submit the return online the software automatically calculates any tax payable and instantly acknowledges that we have received your return. You'll also have longer to file the return than if you use a paper form - you'll have until 31 January following the end of the tax year instead of 31 October.

You'll need to register for Online Services on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website if you want to submit your return online.

• Understanding and using Self Assessment Online

Key steps for filling in the full tax return

The paper version of the main tax return has two core forms (SA100 and SA101) as well as supplementary pages (for example for employment income or income from property) tailored to your needs. If you get the full tax return you'll need to:

• check you've got the right pages - if it's a paper return
• get together the paperwork and records you'll need
• fill in the core pages and additional information pages that apply to you 
• fill in any supplementary pages that apply to you 
• send the completed return to your Tax Office within the deadline

• Tax return deadlines and penalties - read the current dates

Step one - check you've got the right pages

If you file online

If you file online, simply select the supplementary pages you need. The HMRC software provides most (but not all) of the supplementary pages online. You may, however, be able to submit these pages using third-party software. 

• Tax return software - check which supplementary pages can be filled in online using HMRC and third party software

If you complete a paper return

If you complete a paper return it will tell you if you need to fill in any supplementary pages. You can download any missing pages and help notes from the HMRC website.

• Get a Self Assessment tax return Opens new window

Step two - complete the supplementary pages

For the relevant tax year (6 April to the following 5 April) you'll need records relating to:

• your employment 
• pension contributions you make or any pension you receive 
• income you might get from letting a property or land 
• any capital gains or losses you've made during the tax year
  

• Record keeping (individuals and directors) - learn more

Step three - complete the core pages and additional information pages

Paperwork you'll need

For the relevant tax year you'll need records of:

• UK savings and investments 
• UK pensions, annuities and benefits 
• life insurance gains and AVC refunds 
• any other taxable income
  

• Record keeping (individuals and directors) - learn more

Reliefs, allowances and student loan repayments

If you want to claim relief for retirement annuity and pension contributions and for costs such as gifts to charity, you'll need records showing that you've made these payments.

If you're paying back a student loan and your income is over £15,000, you can make payments through either Self Assessment or PAYE along with any tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).

• Student loans - learn more

Contact and bank details

HMRC asks you for:

• a phone number so that your Tax Office can deal with straightforward queries quickly 
• bank details if you want any tax repaid directly to your account (this is recommended)
  

What happens if you don't have exact figures?

If you don't have exact figures you can use:

• an estimate - a figure you want HMRC to accept as your final figure 
• a provisional figure - one you want to use until you can confirm the actual amount (you must tell HMRC when you will be supplying actual figures)

Use the 'Additional Information' section to say how you arrived at these figures and why you can't use actual figures. If you make adjustments later and you've underpaid tax you may have to pay interest and penalties.

Deadline for sending in your return

The deadlines for sending HMRC your tax return are:

• you must send paper tax returns to us by 31 October (or 3 months after the date of issue of the notice - whichever is the later) 
• if you send in an online tax return you've got until 31 January (or 3 months after the date of issue of the notice - whichever is the later)
  

• Tax return deadlines and penalties

Receipts are not provided for paper tax returns. If you file online you'll get an immediate, on-screen acknowledgment that HMRC has received your return.

Avoiding common mistakes

So that HMRC can process your return quickly:

• make sure you sign and date it if it is a paper return 
• check that you've completed and included any supplementary pages needed 
• don't include notes on the return like 'information to follow'

Filing online can help you to avoid making mistakes. Follow the link below to find out how to register to file your tax return online.

If you have problems completing your tax return

If you need help you can ring the Self Assessment Helpline on 0845 900 0444. It's open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.