Understanding and using Self Assessment Online :Cross Stitch – Money, tax and benefits

If you are sending HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) a Self Assessment tax return, you can do it online using the secure service HMRC provides. There are many advantages to filing or sending your tax return online instead of by paper, including automatic calculations, faster processing and later deadlines.

There are lots of advantages to sending your tax return online:

  • it’s convenient, safe and secure – your account is encrypted, and protected by your chosen password and a unique User ID
  • you get an instant acknowledgment as soon as HMRC receives your tax return
  • your tax is worked out automatically, so you know what you owe or are owed right away
  • HMRC can repay any money you are owed more quickly than if you send a paper return
  • the deadline for online returns is later than for paper returns
  • you can complete your tax return at your own pace, saving it as you go
  • you can tailor your return, completing the right pages for your circumstances
  • you can store your completed return online and print out a copy for your records
  • you can view your Self Assessment payments and any amounts owed online
  • if you are self-employed, you can view liabilities and payments for your business taxes too
  • you can amend your contact details or use a secure email channel to ask HMRC a question
  • you can pay by Direct Debit – it’s safe and secure, and you’re less likely to miss a payment deadline

You can use the free HMRC Self Assessment service or commercial software to send most tax returns online.

Some types of tax return are not covered by the free HMRC Self Assessment service, but you can buy commercial software to send them online. These include:

  • SA900 – Trust and Estate Tax Return
  • SA800 – Partnership Tax Return
  • Your personal tax return if it includes certain additional pages, for example if you’re non-resident

You need to be registered to use HMRC Online Services before you can send your tax return online for the first time. This applies whether you use the free HMRC service or commercial software. See the section below for more information about using HMRC Online Services for the first time.

Tax returns you can’t send online

There is currently no free HMRC Self Assessment service or commercial software for sending the following returns, so you will need to send them on paper:

  • SA700 – Tax Return for a non-resident company liable to Income Tax
  • SA970 – Tax Return for Trustees of Registered Pension Schemes

If you’re newly self-employed, HMRC will set up your Self Assessment Online account automatically when you register for business taxes.

If you’re setting up a partnership, a Self Assessment Online account will automatically be set up for the Partnership.

In all other cases, you’ll need to sign up to use HMRC Online Services yourself.

Information you need before you start

You’ll need the following information:

  • your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number
  • either your postcode or National Insurance number (unless you live abroad)

You’ll find your UTR on correspondence from HMRC. If you can’t find it, you can contact the Self Assessment Helpline and ask for it to be sent to your home address. HMRC can’t tell you your UTR over the phone.

If you haven’t completed a tax return before (or it’s been a while since you did), you may not have a UTR. You’ll need to tell HMRC why you need a tax return, by registering for Self Assessment, so you can get a UTR.

If you already have a Self Assessment tax record and a Unique Taxpayer Reference, getting online with HMRC is a three-stage process, you:

  • sign up to use HMRC Online Services and select the relevant service(s) eg Self Assessment
  • wait for your Activation Code to arrive – it’ll be sent to your home address and usually takes around seven working days
  • activate your account, you must do this within 28 days

If you register your new business online for HMRC taxes, on or after 11 April 2012, your Self Assessment Online account will have been set up for you automatically. You’ll just need to wait for your Activation Code to arrive and then activate your account.

Why do you need to wait for an Activation Code?

This is an added security measure to make sure that only you can use your account.

If you have already registered for HMRC Online Services and activated your Self Assessment Online accounts, use the link below to log in and use Self Assessment Online.

If you can’t find your ID or your password you can get a replacement. Go to the online services login page (see the link below), then follow the ‘lost User ID’ or ‘lost password’ links.

For security purposes you’ll need to answer a number of questions before a replacement User ID or password is issued. Your ID or password will be sent to you by email, if you have provided a current email address, or by first class post.

If you have lost both your User ID and password please call the Online Services Helpdesk.

More useful links

Useful contacts

Provided by HM Revenue and Customs