Non HMRC Tax return software

thebigbosh

So having lived out of the country for 6 years I returned to live and work in the UK and was bombarded with 4 tax return requests within a month of starting work! :T

Having spoken to HMRC, it seems that PWC managed to tick a box in my ultimate return which led them to expect a tax return each subsequent year from me- I'd been under the belief that it wasn't needed.

So I've registered for Self Assessment and finally got onto the site today to fill in my previous years (however zero earnings) returns, only to see that the online free self assessment won't work because I was non-resident: I have to use commercial software.

Can anyone recommend a free and easy one please?

anselld

Not free, but fairly cheap ...
https://www.ftax.co.uk/index.php?action=packages_display&tpl=productPage&packageId=153&package_group=Individual_2012

chrismac1

Not free but Taxcalc is excellent. I've done several thousand returns on it and have no complaints.

Cook_County

I use taxcalc too; but then I am a professional as well.

Why not do these on paper since they are all late at this stage or hire a professional to assist?

barak

thebigbosh wrote: »

..... I have to use commercial software.

Can anyone recommend a free and easy one please?

I have used FTAX as suggested by anselld for several years.

Make sure it covers your circumstances. It's good value at £14.99+VAT or a bit less if you are a previous user and very easy to use once you get the hang of it. Non-professional users only get Email support but you get a quick reply - usually within minutes.

The only difficulty I have found is with Foreign Income where withholding tax has been deducted. [It's easy if it's paid Gross]. I just don't understand Foreign Tax Credit Relief and it doesn't calculate it for you. HMRC notes are confusing. I don't know whether other packages do calculate it.

huppelkutje

I have also been non-resident for the last 2 tax years. I forgot that I couldn't submit at HMRC online this year and so missed the paper deadline. I couldn't find any reviews or any free software but I went with SA 2000 in the end as it's very cheap at 12.50GBP. I highly recommend it as it follows the same layout as the HMRC form that I'm used to. It also has a lot of explanatory notes next to the boxes which I found helpful as I'm not an accountant!

I emailed the company last night as I had made a mistake on mine and was getting an error message when trying to submit, they replied within an hour telling me where I had gone wrong! Excellent customer service which I wasn't expecting at all. Just submitted my return online with no problems so a big thumbs up from me

Ftax is 18GBP but I think you can use it for 2 separate returns, so it's even cheaper if you can share it with someone that wants to submit online.

kitty1801

Remember that for 2010-11 and 2011-12, if the returns are late, there are very hefty late filing penalties - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/deadlines-penalties.htm#3 that will be charged even if you don't owe anything. I suggest you contact the tax office first by telephone, let them know that you don't think you meet the criteria those years and they might be able to get them cancelled (thus avoiding late filing penalties) - see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/need-tax-return.htm. For the earlier years, penalties are capped at the maximum owed in tax and so you should be fine just to complete those (it's highly unlikely that they will be cancelled)