Shorter/Easier Self Assesment Form?

Mikeyorks

Sarahjovi wrote:

she fills in a 4 page booklet and if I have made under £15,000 pa, I too should be able to fill in this booklet and not the one I have got!

Hi Sarah - it's only as complicated as you / your business are! I think you will find it's easier to complete than it looks. For most people a lot of the sections are not applicable. And it's easy to complete online, as the software presents it to you in easily digestible chunks. I'm assuming you're self employed? Basic rule of thumb - if you're conducting your business / record keeping satisfactorily and without an Acct .. you should be able to do the return yourself. If you need an Acct - it's his / her job to do the return.

Your friend is talking about the 'short return' which is issued to people with 'simpler tax affairs' in the HMRC parlance. You won't get one of those until HMRC have decided whether you're 'simple' ((;)) or not! And they currently need your first return to determine that.

Read this ... covers it quite well?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/shorttaxreturn.htm

aeuerby

If I remember from last year correctly (but don't quote me on this) there are 2 sections in the tax return. One is for if you made over £15000 and a simpler one if it was under £15000. We filled in the one for under and it was relatively straight forward. Basically they want o know what came in, what went out and what was left. Our records are accurate so we didn't need an accountant.

This year we have a "simple" return to complete and we will file it on-line.

A word about filing your return on-line. You will need to register and they will send you a passcode which takes about a week to arrive before you can file the return so don't leave it until the last minute. Once you have the code it's very straight forward.

ctm_2

aeuerby wrote:

If I remember from last year correctly (but don't quote me on this) there are 2 sections in the tax return. One is for if you made over £15000 and a simpler one if it was under £15000. We filled in the one for under and it was relatively straight forward.

That is on the self employment pages of the fullt ax return.

The self employment section is 4 pages long, but if your turnover for a whole year was less than £15000 then you only have to enter turnover, expenses, and net profit. You don't have to fill in some of the sections

chloejane_2

ive been filling in self assesment forms for the last few years and been filling them in myself, struggled lots due to very poor maths skills, but have always been able to get good advice from the tax office, as basically they just want the money you own them or they owe you to be where it should be, but do remember to photo copy you paperwork as once mine got lost and it was a complete nightmare to have to do it all again, hope this helps

ctm_2

chloejane wrote:

do remember to photo copy you paperwork as once mine got lost and it was a complete nightmare to have to do it all again

That is very very good advice. I reccomend keeping a copy of all forms and letters that you send to HMRC in case of anything getting lost.

Kahuna_2

Cook_County wrote:

In summary patience, goodwill and modesty are virtues from which this forum flourishes. Please be kind to others, and they will treat you decently in return!

Hypocracy is one of my pet hates.

tawnyowls

Sarahjovi, filling your tax return on-line is generally easier, as it'll add things up for you as you go along. It is possible, as you found out, to fill in the simple self-assessment form (the 3-line form), but be warned - there is strong evidence that people who do that are much more likely to get investigated by the IR (they deny it, but they would, wouldn't they?).

You don't need a tax specialist to do it, unless you've got a very complicated business, but can be worth getting the services of an accountant, as they can often advise on things you should be claiming. Again, if your business is pretty straightforward, and you can hand the accountant an Excel spreadsheet and a nice tidy folder of receipts, invoices etc (not an old carrier bag stuff full of coffee-stained paper!), you should be able to get one pretty cheaply - I certainly wouldn't pay more than £300, and usually half that is possible.

Mikeyorks

tawnyowls wrote:

Sarahjovi, filling your tax return on-line is generally easier, as it'll add things up for you as you go along. It is possible, as you found out, to fill in the simple self-assessment form (the 3-line form), but be warned - there is strong evidence that people who do that are much more likely to get investigated by the IR (they deny it, but they would, wouldn't they?).

Sorry - but you're completely wrong.

1. You can't complete the short (simple) Return - until you've completed a full Return. And HMRC have processed that and determined if your affairs are relevant to the short Return. The OP has not yet completed a first full Return.

2. The short Return is 4 pages - not 3 lines

3. You can't complete the short Return online. Nor can you requisition one from the Orderline

4. There is no 'strong evidence' - that's absolute rubbish. As HMRC determine that your affairs are more straightforward - before they will provide the short return - it means you are in the relatively low end of their risk assessing.

Petmidget

This might be a bit long so I apologise in advance for recycling an out of date thread but I do reserve the right to defend myself even if I have not been active for a while.

Cook_County wrote:

Petmidget

I find your lack of understanding as to how to construct a sentence, spell and use of swearwords quite unacceptable. I would also suggest you refrain from gender specific words such as 'layman' and claiming that you are 'very knowledgeable'.

I know many many CTAs and doubt that you possess this qualification at all. Passing off is a serious offence. If you claim to be qualified then what year did you qualify, what number of years experience do you have and what (if any) areas do you specialise in advising on?

In summary patience, goodwill and modesty are virtues from which this forum flourishes. Please be kind to others, and they will treat you decently in return!

My serious gripe is the portion enboldened. I am not a lawyer, but in my opinion this is tantamount to slander, if someone said this to me across a room I would hit the roof and possibly them!!

If I have to prove myself please feel free to look at the following.

http://www.pbta.co.uk/site_source/our_partners.html

I cannot link to my listing on the ACCA website but my membership number is 0234484, I am a Fellow and hold a practising certificate.

I do not believe the Chartered Institurte of Taxation list members on the website or at least I could not see it when I looked.

For the oddly suspicious people who live on the internet who may believe I woud have gone to the huge effort of substituting another persons details. Please see this which has a another picture of me using the same nickname which I have used in my online life for the last 6 years or so.

http://www.thelanrooms.co.uk/forum/member.php?find=lastposter&f=13

And I do not work in an internet cafe, I own it.

The following is not to be construed as an advert, so please do not flame it for those reasons, I am simply pointing out the basis from which I have posted in the past and possibly will do in the future

I have been in the accountancy profession since the age of 18 some 14 years now, I qualified as an ACCA at age 24, a CTA at 26. I have been a senior manager in some of the largest firms in the South West including 1 which not long after I left obtained top 20 status. I have practiced for my own gain since I was 27, setting up the above firm 2 years ago.

We do all things accountancy but specialise in complex tax areas, our clients range from the jobbing builder to members of the aristoracy and we have a very good reputation for our work and tenacity when dealing with the Treasury in all its various guises.

As for the minor points, I believe most of the above language, spelling and grammar is constructed correctly, if not I do apologise and maybe it is a symptom of the modern education system.

I am afraid I do not subscribe to the PC agenda and I will use the masculine or feminine or neutral as I feel appropriate. I will not caveat everything I type for the sake of gender. This is not to say I am a misogynist nor any other 'ist apart from a cyclist. If you are offended by this, get a life!

I once again tender my regrets to the people (male, female or non gender specific) reading this who have no interest in it contents and were looking for information on self assessment forms but this attack on my person has got my hackles up.

Sarahjovi

Hello!

I just seen that this thread has re-emerged!

I sent back my Self Assessment Form, (One of my neighbours sister is an accountant and helped me fill it in). I sent it off Mid July, but haven't heard anything back yet! Should I have heard by now? (We worked out that I only made about £12 profit on my small business!)

Thanks

Sarah