Do i need to complete self assessment

love1976

hi

I haven't worked for the tax year 09/10, the inland revenue have sent me a reminder to complete my self assessment online. do i still need to do it even though i didn't work or earn any money during that tax year??

thanks

phantom9999

Yes, you do need to complete the return, even if its nil. Basically if HMRC send you something to complete they want it back.

love1976

i sent an online enquiry to hmrc and this is there reply - can some pls interpret into plain english for me !!

Thank you for your online enquiry. In most cases HMRC decides who needs to complete a return each year by checking the details on the previous years return. As your 2008-09 tax return showed Self Assessment Criteria you have been correctly issued with a return for 2009-10. If the Self Assessment criteria no longer applies to you for 2009-10 this will be shown when your return for that year is processed. Provided you submit your return in time for this to be processed before the selection for 2010-11 run is done you will not receive future returns. Please bear in mind however that you should continue to notify HMRC of any changes in circumstances in future

Chinkle

Simple answer is yes. HMRC aren't mind readers and don't know that you haven't earned anything, they can only go by the circumstances from the previous year. It should be a simple job if there is absolutely nothing to declare. By completing a 09/10 return this will in all likelihood trigger the HMRC system to inform you that you won't need to complete a return for 10/11 unless your circumstances change again.

System

You need to file the 09/10 tax return before the print run for the 10/11 tax returns get underway or you will be sent one for that year too. I'm not 100% but I think you are too late to stop that now.


If as you said you had no taxable income whatsoever in 09/10 and you contact HMRC they may be able to create a worklist item so that a nil charge can be recorded for that year. In that case you would not have to file the tax return yourself. If you receive one for 10/11 then you need to file it as soon as possible rather than leave it to the last minute.

Mikeyorks

love1976 wrote: »

As your 2008-09 tax return showed Self Assessment Criteria you have been correctly issued with a return for 2009-10.

The quote above is all you need to interpret in the short term ...... which is to the effect you're required to make a Return by the end of this month. Otherwise there will be a penalty (subsequently reduced to £Nil when you file the Return and if there's no tax due for 09-10)

Longer term ....

If the Self Assessment criteria no longer applies to you for 2009-10 this will be shown when your return for that year is processed. Provided you submit your return in time for this to be processed before the selection for 2010-11 run is done you will not receive future returns

........ if you show a cessation date on the Return or £zero income then it's likely you will not be required to file the following year - provided you get this Return in promptly.