When does self assessment for 2013/14 go live?

MamaMoo_2

As above really, I keep getting an error when I click on "File return", so was wondering if it's down, or just not live yet?

PlutoinCapricorn

I would not expect it for a few more days.

I have heard that filing very early is not advisable: it might trigger an enquiry from HMRC.

chrismac1

What evidence do you have for that statement? On the contrary, late or persistent "just in time" filing is not advisable as this is commonly known to be more likely to result in enquiries. When I say commonly known, this is amongst the accountancy profession who deal with their clients' returns and can see that early filers get less heat from HMRC.

This is logical. A late or deadline chasing submission is more likely to involve incomplete records or rushed - and therefore containing errors - work. So likely to be a few easy hits to shoot at for the Inspector. Conversely, someone organised enough to file early is much more like to maintain proper records.

The reason for not filing soon after the database goes back up is quite simply the instability of the database. Most years someone on the accounting websites will post in May about the database simply crunching up an early submission so it needs to be re-done. Or worse still doing a "mixed record" where the submission of one taxpayer is mixed up with the UTR of a different one. These are really tough to sort out because of the poor attitudes in most HMRC tax offices in owning up to, and taking responsibility for, errors created by HMRC systems.

sunnygirls

Its working now ,I've just done my self assessment x

MamaMoo_2

Just an update to say that by 9am the next day the systems were up and running, tax return submitted on 6/4.
No security triggers, in fact repayment has already been released to my account, whereas last year I submitted the return at the end of April, repayment was 1/3 of the amount it is this year, but still went for security checks, possibly due to it being the first year SA and involving PAYE & CIS. This year, however, very smooth sailing, and other than the systems not being ready when they should have been, I'm quite impressed.