Do Not Disturb...

[Brandane]

It is the most stressful evening of the year, which I have been putting off since last April. HMRC have requested a tax return for the tenth year running, and it must be completed (and dues paid) by the end of January. Stress levels rising.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

HMRC are currently piloting a telephone help service where they talk you through it and help you put the right numbers in the right boxes.

 

[vernon]

It is the most stressful evening of the year, which I have been putting off since last April. HMRC have requested a tax return for the tenth year running, and it must be completed (and dues paid) by the end of January. Stress levels rising.

I hope that your tax bill is at least ₤300,000.
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Because it will mean that you are seriously rich.

 

[Brandane]

9% completed, and losing the will to live......

How complicated can it be? Self employed taxi driver, done a few agency shifts driving HGVs, and have a pension. Plus the odd dividend from freebie shares dished out a long time ago.
Got an accountant to do it last year as it was a wee bit complicated, but reckon I could do the job better myself and don't charge myself £85 for an hours work. He never claimed any tax benefits for ANYTHING, which I wasn't impressed with. Phone? Clothing? Subsistence? Fees for taxi licence, HGV tachograph card, medical etc..?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

As said above, get an accountant @Brandane.
Because you're worth it

 

[Brandane]

[QUOTE 2859209, member: 30090"]You have to be careful with taxable benefits, remember they need to be wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the work. So by right food you should not claim for as you eat to live - you don't eat to work.

In addition sometimes you need to look past the £85 an hour (which is cheap by my standards) and look at the value. You coching doing your own thing rather then worry for the last 10 months about a tax return ain't bad for £85 imo.

Good luck.[/quote]

Trouble is, you still have to gather all the necessary information and pass it on to an accountant, then sit with him while he completes the tax return (at a time suitable to him - probably a fine dry cycling day!). I reckon it is just as easy to gather the information and fill in the online tax return, on a cold wet evening .

 

[asterix]

I hope that your tax bill is at least ₤300,000.
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Because it will mean that you are seriously rich.

My tax avoidance scheme is fool-proof. I earn bugger all.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Trouble is, you still have to gather all the necessary information and pass it on to an accountant, then sit with him while he completes the tax return (at a time suitable to him - probably a fine dry cycling day!). I reckon it is just as easy to gather the information and fill in the online tax return, on a cold wet evening .

I gather the info, put them on a spreadsheet, email them to the accountant, post him any hard copy required (end of year P60, bank statements)
He sends me the filled in return, his bill, then gets the lot back signed for online filing.
Haven't seen the man face to face for years!

 

[MontyVeda]

it's a horrible experience... glad i don't have to do it any more.

 

[colly]

I did mine on-line. I have to say the s/e on-line pages are a doddle to use.

Just enter the information and Roberts your mother brother.

 

[Brandane]

90% complete; phew!
Need to contact HMRC regarding one part of it, but their helpline is closed for the night.
Wish my Dad was still around. He was a C.A. and worked as a tax inspector!

 

[Brandane]

My tax avoidance scheme is fool-proof. I earn bugger all.

Me too. But you still have to jump through hoops to tell them that!

 

[Brandane]

Waaaay heyyyyy, it's done!
Next years should be much easier after that experience.
All paid up too, including 50% of the current years contribution. I even got a £25 premium bond win today to put towards it .
If things go to plan, I won't be self employed for much longer, but they will of course continue to insist on an annual tax return for evermore, gits.

 

[rich p]

Waaaay heyyyyy, it's done!

If things go to plan, I won't be self employed for much longer, but they will of course continue to insist on an annual tax return for evermore, gits.

Not necessarily - they gave up on me some years back.

 

[ASC1951]

Waaaay heyyyyy, it's done!
Next years should be much easier after that experience.

Well done that man!
I'm afraid I take the easy route and get an accountant to do mine even though I could in theory and probably in practice do it myself. I had a moderately disappointing year last year and a very disappointing year this year, so I shall be paying tax on last year's profit (plus the payment on account) out of this year's loss. Maybe he should be earning his corn by certifying to HMRC that I need not make the payment on account.