Anything to do now for first time SA in April?

hoc

I will need to do an SA this year (for 15-16) for the first time having opened a SIPP in November. I am HRT on PAYE and apart from some interest earnings which I had previously settled over the phone my SA should be easy to complete but I would still like to do it early around May-June and get it out of the way.

Is there anything I should be doing now to prompt the process? I'm not sure I will be automatically sent any forms and I don't really mind doing on paper or online. It seems I can't use the new online system yet as I am not a UK citizen.

Darksparkle

Have you registered for SA?

agrinnall

Is there really a restriction on doing SA online to UK citizens? I would have thought that the key requirement was having a NINO, which is certainly issued to people who don't have citizenship.

CLAPTON

does a sipp require a SA ?

Darksparkle

agrinnall wrote: »

Is there really a restriction on doing SA online to UK citizens? I would have thought that the key requirement was having a NINO, which is certainly issued to people who don't have citizenship.

Should only need UTR and either NINO or postcode.

Given the amount of non UK citizens required to do SA, I doubt they are restricted to paper returns.

[Deleted User]

CLAPTON wrote: »

does a sipp require a SA ?

Indeed.................

hoc

Darksparkle wrote: »

Have you registered for SA?

No. I looked at the form (SA1) a few weeks ago and none of the options for "Why do you need to complete a tax return?" were appropriate. What is the right form and option to select?

agrinnall wrote: »

Is there really a restriction on doing SA online to UK citizens? I would have thought that the key requirement was having a NINO, which is certainly issued to people who don't have citizenship.

Darksparkle wrote: »

Should only need UTR and either NINO or postcode.

Given the amount of non UK citizens required to do SA, I doubt they are restricted to paper returns.

Sorry for confusing. By "new online system" I meant the new one that is still optional/being trialed. The identification for that system currently requires UK citizenship. For the old/regular online form, yes I should be able to do it after a get a UTR.

CLAPTON wrote: »

does a sipp require a SA ?

[Deleted User] wrote:

Indeed.................

Is it possible otherwise for a HRT payer to get 20% tax?

Darksparkle

If you don't meet the SA criteria then I believe you just declare it in the same way you do interest.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/pension-tax-relief

jem16

hoc wrote: »

Is it possible otherwise for a HRT payer to get 20% tax?

Yes you simply phone HMRC and declare the gross contribution to them and they will either adjust your tax code or send you a refund by cheque.

sandsy

I was in the same position for 14-15 and I recently tried to register online for SA. The system wouldn't let me so I rang the system helpline who told me I didn't need to and transferred me to HMRC. I told them my gross contribution and within minutes, they agreed I was due a refund.

They said they would send out the calculation then a cheque although both arrived the same day, about 10 days later. And this was on a Saturday afternoon - I was rather impressed!!

hoc

Darksparkle wrote: »

If you don't meet the SA criteria then I believe you just declare it in the same way you do interest.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/pension-tax-relief

jem16 wrote: »

Yes you simply phone HMRC and declare the gross contribution to them and they will either adjust your tax code or send you a refund by cheque.

sandsy wrote: »

I was in the same position for 14-15 and I recently tried to register online for SA. The system wouldn't let me so I rang the system helpline who told me I didn't need to and transferred me to HMRC. I told them my gross contribution and within minutes, they agreed I was due a refund.

They said they would send out the calculation then a cheque although both arrived the same day, about 10 days later. And this was on a Saturday afternoon - I was rather impressed!!

I really wasn't expecting these answers. Every single source I have read, from SIPP providers to forums, has mentioned claiming the additional 20% on SIPP via SA.

One question that immediately comes to mind is the number. I distinctly remember there were limits for income on interest savings and other things up to which this could be done over the phone or by writing, if above an SA was required. The amount was higher than my interest so not relevant. Sadly, I can't find the exact page on the HMRC site. In the list at https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/who-must-send-a-tax-return if I have interpreted correctly up to 10k interest earning can be done without SA. Is that right? Seems really high, I remember much smaller limits when I spoke with HMRC a few years ago...

Anyway, as you all suggest I do not see anything related to SIPP in the list so I presume there is no limit. Seems a bit odd, more than 10k interest needs SA but 20k tax relief on SIPP doesn't?