Do I need an accountant?

whereschris

Hi

I teach guitar and gig for a living as well as working for the local council. I'm just about to do my third tax return. I have an excel speadsheet of earnings and expenses and most reciepts for expenses. After expenses, my income was about 1,800.

Should I bother to get an accountant to do my tax return? I'm pretty clueless about what is claimable and how it works etc... I just know what I earnt and what i spent. Maybe an expert could save more? I did it myself last year on line and it seemed to work but it all rather scares me!

Thanks for any advice

Zazen999

Hi
Have you attended the free tax self assessment workshops; very dry but it does tell you what you need to do and what can be claimed for; and how to set out the forms etc.
After that, if you still don't understand then perhaps yes; but it is pretty basic stuff if you have even half an eye for numbers.

whereschris

thanks

I've not been to one of these sessions yet but really must. I'm sure much of this stuff won't apply to me anyway with my earnings being so small. I'll get on to it.

talkinpeace

OP
As an accountant, I would have to say No.
If you look up my name on eBay, there is my me page which shows how to lay out your accounts.
If you are OK with that, you should be OK with doing your own basic tax.