Online tax return - how?!

cosmicjazzer

I've been self-employed (as a sole trader) for almost 20 years but have up to now always had an accountant deal with all aspects of tax for me.

Now, due to financial hardship, I need to stop using my accountant's services and complete my own tax return (online) for the first time. I have copies of previous tax returns and don't forsee any problem in filling in the tax return form itself.

But the issue is... how do I access the appropriate online form?! I see options to register for self assessment (which presumably I do not need to do as I already have a UTR and have been paying tax for years...) but no obvious way to access a tax return form. Can anyone help? Do I need to first register for an online account? If so, how (on earth!)? All the links in the gov site take me round in circles that seem to bypass my particular scenario...

unholyangel

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed

BoGoF

Are you sure it's wise to dispense with your accountants services at such short notice to the filing deadline? Get it wrong and it will cost you way more than the accountants fees.

Are you qualified to prepare accounts/computations/calculate capital allowances etc

cosmicjazzer

Thanks very much for that link, unholyangel. I'd seen this page but wasn't entirely sure if any of the links there were quite appropriate to my circumstances.

Looking again, I'm thinking that perhaps CWF1 form is the one I need to fill in, though I would be grateful of confirmation from anyone in the know.

If that is the right form, I'm wondering how I should answer "Date the above period of self-employment started or your trading allowance exemption ceased?" The start date of my relevant tax year, rather than the actual start of my self-employment is my guess...

cosmicjazzer

BoGoF wrote: »

Are you sure it's wise to dispense with your accountants services at such short notice to the filing deadline? Get it wrong and it will cost you way more than the accountants fees.

Are you qualified to prepare accounts/computations/calculate capital allowances etc

I'm staggeringly unqualified! Except for the fact that I have copies of my previous tax returns and should be able to glean from those (plus my knowledge of the figures I sent to my accountant in previous years) what to do. I know nothing about capital allowances but I hope to find out by some digging around how to calculate those. I literally can no longer afford my accountant so don't have the choice of retaining his services.

Dazed_and_confused

Looking again, I'm thinking that perhaps CWF1 form is the one I need to fill in, though I would be grateful of confirmation from anyone in the know.

If that is the right form, I'm wondering how I should answer "Date the above period of self-employment started or your trading allowance exemption ceased?" The start date of my relevant tax year, rather than the actual start of my self-employment is my guess...

I could be out of touch but years ago CWF1 was used by someone notifying HMRC that they had started self employment.

So first question. Have you started a second business? If not then that form is only ever going to confuse HMRC and sending one to HMRC could potentially cause you no end of bother.

The start date of my relevant tax year, rather than the actual start of my self-employment is my guess...

So you would then have two businesses registered with HMRC. Have you got two businesses?

cosmicjazzer

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

I could be out of touch but years ago CWF1 was used by someone notifying HMRC that they had started self employment.

So first question. Have you started a second business? If not then that form is only ever going to confuse HMRC and sending one to HMRC could potentially cause you no end of bother.

So you would then have two businesses registered with HMRC. Have you got two businesses?

I just have one business, which I've had 20 years. Try as I might, I cannot find a way to register online so that I can complete my tax return online...

Dazed_and_confused

How about trying the official guidance here,

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed

Specifically the link in this section,

If you already have a UTR (for example, if you’ve sent a paper return before or registered by phone), create an account for the online service instead.

pramsay13

How much does your accountant charge?

I file my own tax returns but I wouldn't want to learn how to do it in 1 month.

If you cannot afford an accountant, how will you pay any tax owed for the previous tax year?

It might be worth speaking to your accountant and explaining, maybe he can offer you a good deal considering he has completed your returns for the last 20 years, or maybe you can do more of the work and he can charge you less for the bits he does do.

cosmicjazzer

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

How about trying the official guidance here,

Specifically the link in this section,

If you already have a UTR (for example, if you’ve sent a paper return before or registered by phone), create an account for the online service instead.

That link had been my first port of call. But when I click on it I'm directed to a login page where I have to give my 'Government Gateway user ID'. I don't have a Government Gateway user ID, only a UTR. I understand I need to register somewhere to get that Government Gateway user ID but I don't know where!

cosmicjazzer

pramsay13 wrote: »

How much does your accountant charge?

I file my own tax returns but I wouldn't want to learn how to do it in 1 month.

If you cannot afford an accountant, how will you pay any tax owed for the previous tax year?

It might be worth speaking to your accountant and explaining, maybe he can offer you a good deal considering he has completed your returns for the last 20 years, or maybe you can do more of the work and he can charge you less for the bits he does do.

My accountant has never been cheap! I already owe HMRC the previous year's tax, which I've been unable to pay because of a dramatic change in earning ability - long story, but one which HMRC are sympathetic with. I will have no tax to pay for the last year as profit has been below the allowance.