Do I need to do a self assessment tax return?

sharp-spark

Hi everyone,

My wife is employed and pays tax at the basic rate via PAYE.
She has recently received money (something like £200) from abroad for examining a PhD thesis.

Will she need to complete a self assessment tax return for that £200?

If so when does it need to be done? Does it have to be submitted in the 2019-2020 tax year, or does it need to be done now?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
SS

00ec25

no "I" do not need to do a tax return on behalf of my wife

nor does your wife have to do a tax return on behalf of herself

read: £1,000 "trading" allowance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-free-allowances-on-property-and-trading-income

sharp-spark

Hehe, I know I don't need to do the tax return on behalf of my wife.
I wrote the title the way I did to keep it simple. Sorry for any confusion!

Anyway, many thanks for your response! Totally missed that when looking through the pages.

sharp-spark

What about this bit?

If your annual gross income from these is £1,000 or less, you don’t need to tell HMRC, unless:

• you can’t use the allowances

...
When you can’t use the allowances
You can’t use the allowances in a tax year, if you have any trade or property income from:

• your employer or the employer of your spouse or civil partner

So while the money from thesis examination falls under the 'trade' allowance, her usual employment isn't considered 'trade' with respect to this quote?

You must tell HMRC if you have:

• gross trading income over £1,000 - register for Self Assessment
• other gross income over £1,000 up to £2,500 - contact HMRC
• other income over £2,500 - register for Self Assessment

"Other income" here doesn't include her standard salary?

tacpot12

Your wife can use the tax free allowance providing that the money has not come from:
- a company she or someone connected to her owns or controls
- a partnership where she or someone connected to her are partners
- her employer or the employer of your spouse or civil partner

This money from abroad sounds like it has come from a school/college/university or private individual, and not any of the organisations listed above.

Her usual employment is not her trade. Her trade is what she does as a Sole Trader or as a member of a Partnership.