The UK tax return deadline is looming – here's how to get yours done.
With just a few days left before the 31 January deadline for submitting your tax return, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Rushing to complete it at the last minute could lead to errors and difficulties in obtaining the information you need. Additionally, HMRC phone lines will be extremely busy during this period, so you'll want to ensure that you're prepared with all the necessary documents and details.
To get started, gather all relevant documents such as P60s, P45s, P11Ds, or PAYE coding notices, as well as tax certificates for investments. If logging into your company's intranet to access these is not straightforward, allow plenty of time to complete this task. You can also use the HMRC app to obtain and check a lot of information, including your self-assessment "unique taxpayer reference" and details of employment income.
Be mindful of side hustles – even if you earn extra money through freelance work or casual jobs like babysitting, letting property, or trading, you'll need to report these on your tax return. While there's a £1,000 trading allowance per year, exceeding this amount may require registration for self-assessment and completion of a return.
Additionally, savings rates have increased, making it more likely that people will exceed their personal savings allowances of £1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers and £500 for higher-rate taxpayers. Make sure you include any charity donations that are subject to gift aid in your tax return, as these can provide an extra 25p for every £1 donated.
Stay alert to potential scams from HMRC, especially via email or text message. The department will never ask for personal or financial information directly and will only contact customers by email, text, or phone with genuine notifications about a refund or request to claim one. If you receive suspicious communications, forward emails to [email protected] and text messages to 60599.
Lastly, check out HMRC's YouTube channel for short "how-to" videos that provide guidance on completing your tax return, including viewing your self-assessment tax return calculation and using the HMRC app to make a payment.
With just a few days left before the 31 January deadline for submitting your tax return, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Rushing to complete it at the last minute could lead to errors and difficulties in obtaining the information you need. Additionally, HMRC phone lines will be extremely busy during this period, so you'll want to ensure that you're prepared with all the necessary documents and details.
To get started, gather all relevant documents such as P60s, P45s, P11Ds, or PAYE coding notices, as well as tax certificates for investments. If logging into your company's intranet to access these is not straightforward, allow plenty of time to complete this task. You can also use the HMRC app to obtain and check a lot of information, including your self-assessment "unique taxpayer reference" and details of employment income.
Be mindful of side hustles – even if you earn extra money through freelance work or casual jobs like babysitting, letting property, or trading, you'll need to report these on your tax return. While there's a £1,000 trading allowance per year, exceeding this amount may require registration for self-assessment and completion of a return.
Additionally, savings rates have increased, making it more likely that people will exceed their personal savings allowances of £1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers and £500 for higher-rate taxpayers. Make sure you include any charity donations that are subject to gift aid in your tax return, as these can provide an extra 25p for every £1 donated.
Stay alert to potential scams from HMRC, especially via email or text message. The department will never ask for personal or financial information directly and will only contact customers by email, text, or phone with genuine notifications about a refund or request to claim one. If you receive suspicious communications, forward emails to [email protected] and text messages to 60599.
Lastly, check out HMRC's YouTube channel for short "how-to" videos that provide guidance on completing your tax return, including viewing your self-assessment tax return calculation and using the HMRC app to make a payment.
just a few days left to submit ur tax return! 
I feel like ppl r putting it off til last minn 
& then they get all stressed & confused lol. seriously tho, make sure u gather all ur docs & details beforehand, & dont be afraid 2 ask for help if u need it 
the hmrc app is a lifesaver btw! 
also dont 4get to check on side hustles & savings rates 
and btw, dont fall for those scammers 
stay safe & happy tax season 
the UK tax return deadline is coming up like what 5 days ago?! I'm totally not looking forward to it lol, but i know we gotta get our acts together and gather all those documents ASAP! P60s, P45s, P11Ds, u name it 
. And dont even get me started on side hustles, freelance work, etc... i got a friend who lets out a room on airbnb and she has to report that on her tax return too 
. and omg the charity donations thingy, 25p for every £1 donated?! thats literally just a few quid more in my bank account 
... anyway, did you know that some freelance platforms are already announcing that they'll be offering free tax help for freelancers this year? 
it's gonna be a big help for those who don't know where to start or need a bit of extra guidance. also, gotta give a shoutout to HMRC for making their app and resources more user-friendly 
... now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go prep my tax return 
. Does anyone have any experience with this?
I'm so sorry I missed this thread! I've been busy with work and life stuff... anyway, just saw this about the UK tax return deadline 
. Honestly, it's kinda crazy how many people rush into submitting their returns at the last minute. I mean, I know mistakes can happen if you don't plan ahead, but some people should really look into using those HMRC apps and videos for tips... it makes sense to take a bit of time to gather all your docs and stuff instead of freaking out 
. Oh well, now it's too late for me, but hopefully this helps others who might've missed the thread 
. can't believe we have to deal with all these forms and documents and stuff... i mean, who even thought it was a good idea to require people to submit their personal info via email or text msg? 
. also, side hustles? who even keeps track of that stuff?! 
... it's always the same stress around this time. I think what really gets me is when they remind us about all these little details we need to keep track of, like side hustles and charity donations 
anyway, side hustles r a thing, even if it's just babysitting or something, u gotta report that on ur tax return 
. And don't even get me started on those side hustles – yeah, you gotta report that freelance income, even if it's just a lil' bit of babysitting 
. I feel like the £1,000 trading allowance is barely enough to cover the cost of my own sanity 
. It just shows they care about our safety and security online 
. Plus, the app sounds so helpful - I'm definitely gonna give it a try! 
. Plus, HMRC scammers are always on the lookout for gullible people 
!
Anyway, side hustles are a pain in the neck. I know some people make extra cash online or through freelance work, but honestly, it's just so much extra stress. And don't even get me started on those charity donations... 25p extra for every £1? Like, what's the point of that? 
.
. and don't even get me started on side hustles 
.
... anyway it seems like they're being super strict about errors which is kinda reasonable considering how stressful taxes can be... i really need to get mine done ASAP because i've been meaning to look into my side hustles and see if i'm making more money than i think, and also i don't want to miss out on those charity donations