Free self assessment courses for self-employed people

Mikeyorks

You've dredged up a link that's nearly 2 years old ..... so some things do change? But if you'd really read the link you would have discovered this on the course detail :-

Self Assessment Online


This is a new workshop that will be available from May 2010. It will cover

• how to register for Self Assessment online
• how to tailor the online tax return to meet your personal requirements
• gain an understanding of how to complete the self-employed pages of an online tax return
• how to send the completed return online
• other services that are available once you have registered for Self Assessment online.

poohster

I realised it was 2 yrs old but thought id may still be the same.

"Self Assessment Online


This is a new workshop that will be available from May 2010. It will cover

• how to register for Self Assessment online
• how to tailor the online tax return to meet your personal requirements
• gain an understanding of how to complete the self-employed pages of an online tax return
• how to send the completed return online
• other services that are available once you have registered for Self Assessment online."

Is it just me or am i blind i cant find that statement anywhere either , guess ill just loo again in may thanks for the info Mike

cosyc

Looks like there are three courses now available free http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/advice-team-events/work1.htm

If you are self-employed

If you are newly self-employed, or considering becoming self-employed, HMRC strongly recommend you consider attending a newly self-employed workshop prior to attending a business expenses and Capital Allowances for the self-employed workshop.
Newly self-employed


HMRC cover:

• how to register your business with HMRC
• understanding what is meant by employment status
• different classes of National Insurance contributions
• basic record keeping
• the tax return cycle, payments to HMRC and penalties
• where to go for further help and advice

HMRC recommend you attend this workshop first if you are new to self employment.
Business expenses and Capital Allowances for the self-employed


HMRC cover:

• what allowable business expenses are and how to work out your tax allowances
• how to recognise the most common types of allowable business expenses
• how to identify allowable and non-allowable business expenses
• the different ways to work out your motoring expenses
• how to correctly work out Capital Allowances for cars, other vehicles and equipment using examples
• where to find any further information and help you may need
• Self Assessment Online

HMRC recommend you attend this workshop after newly self-employed the basics unless you have experience of self employment.
Please note: Newly self-employed - the basics and business expenses and Capital Allowances for the self-employed are not applicable to directors of limited companies.
Self Assessment Online - for the self-employed


HMRC cover

• how to register for Self Assessment Online
• how to tailor the online Tax Return to meet your personal requirements
• gain an understanding of how to complete the self-employed pages of an online return
• how to send the completed return online
• other services that are available once you have registered for Self Assessment Online

HMRC recommend you attend this workshop after business expenses and Capital Allowances for the self-employed.

no-oneknowsme

cosyc - your link in your post isnt working.....or is it just not working for me?

cosyc

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

cosyc - your link in your post isnt working.....or is it just not working for me?

Thanks, have amended so should work now.

no-oneknowsme

cosyc wrote: »

Thanks, have amended so should work now.

Thanks very much . Its working perfectly now and is very useful.

Thanks

ncthomas1

Accountant here going to just put a different little spin on this, will probably get shouted at for this one, by of course it is like anything else, just my humble opinion. Hopefully my fellow accountants on here will back my up!
Whilst, in essence, I agree that this is a good idea, in principle I have to say that over the years, we have found more and more that the "Culture" that exists in HMRC, with Tax staff especially, is that they are not there, (as they used to understand when I worked there), to interpret tax legislation, set by our government. Unfortunately, many staff now actually firmly believe that HMRC's interpretation actually IS the law. And as they are HMRC, they now sometimes feel they are the law itself.
I can not see, how anyone can possibly believe, especially in the state the treasury pot is in at the present time, that HMRC are running this to "Help" people in the way it suggests. I believe that their "Help" may more consist of a slight lean towards their interpretations of tax law, that basically nets them more tax from people.
Sad, but true. It is well published that HMRC are diabolical at collecting tax, but they are getting really good at collecting fines. And at brainwashing people into believing that THEIR was is the ONLY way.
Again, not so. That is why us lovely accountants do the job we do.
Our job, is to not fiddle the tax, in any way, shape or form, but to INTERPRET the tax legislation, and minimise the Client's tax position, within the law that exists.
Our interpretations differ vastly sometimes from HMRC, usually when it means the tax man gets less, but hey, that is what we go to study for many years to learn is all about.
We are there to fight in the corner of "Paying the CORRECT" amount of tax, not fiddling the tax man, or making the client pay more, just the CORRECT amount.
If everyone did that, we'd all be paying less. Fact.
So, now, what do you think these courses are based on? HMRC spin on what they want, or really DONT want you to claim for, or what THEY want to achieve
Answers on the back of a postcard lol

ncthomas1

I can also, hand on heart say, I have attended one of these courses "Under cover!" and was totally horrified at some of the answers given when people were asking "Can I claim X Y or Z" and one answer that was given when a lady asked about a specific kind of tax relief was so wide off the mark, had it been a "Real life" question, would have meant her paying more tax than she needed to, had she gone with the answer that was given to her, and the room full of people there that obviously thought the person speaking on the course on behalf of HMRC, was actually telling the truth.
Shocking, but true
(and yes fellow accountants, of COURSE I wrote and told HMRC what I thought of it. Now, how many months did I wait for a reply to that one, would have more chance of getting a 64-8 through first time these days.......)