Self-assessment (SA316) - No longer self-employed

b-b-b

Hi all,

I'm after some advice please -I have received a self-assessment notice (SA316) to file a tax return for 6 April 2012 - 5 April 2013.

I was self-employed for over 3 years until May 2012 (last year) when I became PAYE employee.

I have a sinking suspicion because I became PAYE in May 2012 (after April 12) I need to complete this request for an assessment, don't I?

I was rather hoping I don't need too on account of becoming PAYE.

Dazed_and_confused

I don't think when you went onto PAYE has anything to do with you being asked to complete a tax return. You need to complete one because you were self employed during that tax year.

Depending on what tax code was used on your job and what profit/loss you will show for 2012:13 the tax return will determine how much tax you owe or are owed back for the year.

If you complete the return in good time and show the date the business ended you shouldn't need to fill one in for later years (unless of course there is another reason why you need to such as you are a company director).

tyllwyd

Have you notified HMRC that you are no longer self-employed?
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheet/stop-trading.pdf
If you haven't, they might think that you are still self-employed (as well as being PAYE) so they might ask you to do a tax return for this tax year as well.

b-b-b

@Dazed - I disagree - technically there is 4 weeks between me coming PAYE and being self-employed during 2012-2013 - I would think (and hope) that the lovely people at HRMC - who never make a mistake would accept that doesn't constitute a self-assessment.

@tyllwyd - Yes I highlighted this on my last tax-return filled in the section relevant and attached a letter - I also sent them a copy of this as a confirmation in the post seperately.

I now have a letter from NI asking for my contributions, despite not being self-employed. What a wonderful system with absolutely no flaws in it - makes me proud to be British.

PlutoinCapricorn

HMRC will keep asking you to complete tax returns as a self employed person until you complete the ceased trading date field on the return. There is no harm in letting them know earlier, but it is best to use the official route.

Getting a PAYE job does not mean that you can't continue with the other work in your spare time, so HMRC will not assume that a new job as an employee automatically means that you are no longer self employed.

b-b-b

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

HMRC will keep asking you to complete tax returns as a self employed person until you complete the ceased trading date field on the return.

YES. I know that I have already done this in my previous assessment (2011 - 2012). I completed the section informing them I was no longer self-employed - Which is why I don't understand why I'm being asked to complete another self-assessment when I have ceased trading and receiving NI payment notification.

Dazed_and_confused

b-b-b wrote: »

@Dazed - I disagree - technically there is 4 weeks between me coming PAYE and being self-employed during 2012-2013 - I would think (and hope) that the lovely people at HRMC - who never make a mistake would accept that doesn't constitute a self-assessment.

@tyllwyd - Yes I highlighted this on my last tax-return filled in the section relevant and attached a letter - I also sent them a copy of this as a confirmation in the post seperately.

I now have a letter from NI asking for my contributions, despite not being self-employed. What a wonderful system with absolutely no flaws in it - makes me proud to be British.

I hope you are still proud to be British after you have explained how this part of your original post "I was self-employed for over 3 years until May 2012" means you weren't self employed in 2012:13.

Last time I checked May 2012 was fairly and squarely in the tax year ending 05:04:2013 meaning a tax return for 2012:13 will need to be completed.

I think everyone who has taken the trouble to reply to your query has given the same reply, all based on the facts you provided. You might not like the advice but surely the fact everyone is of the same opinion tells you something, even though it might not be what you wanted to hear.

You could probably have completed the return in the time you have spent on this thread.

b-b-b

I don't need to complete a self-assessment! :T

Savvy_Sue

I hope you got that in writing ...

My understanding was that the bottom line is that if HMRC send you a tax return, you need to fill it in ...

You can explain you don't have any untaxed income, and ask them to STOP sending tax returns, but all the time they do, you have to fill it in.