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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how much I've fucked up? HMRC

137 replies

ohshit89 · 11/04/2025 19:29

Self employed, done something a bit stupid.

Basically I admit that for the past 5 years of being self employed I have really no idea how much I've potentially earnt that year until my accountant sends me draft self assessments after 5th April. There are things I could do to keep better on top of this obviously but it's really never mattered that much because profits have never been massive. Because of the structure of the business currently, any profit counts as my own income for SA purposes so even though I only "pay" myself a modest amount every month, my earnings are whatever profit the business has made.

Basically business has boomed this past year, which I am not complaining about but our accountant has done my SA and I have earnt in the last tax year over 100k (and I'm talking about a jump from under 30k last year to over £130k). I really was not expecting it, I was obviously aware business had taken off but really I did not expect that. I do not "pay" myself anywhere near that sort of money per month and while the business does have a good float I certainly couldn't have extracted that all from the business for personal use.

Onto the issue...for the last tax year I have claimed free nursery hours for my son and tax free childcare. I am aware I will need to pay it back and I of course have no problems in doing so but I have obviously (unintentionally) been telling HMRC that I earn under 100k for a whole year when I have infact earnt over.

Will there be an issue? A penalty? I know i really should have an idea myself of profits and this has really shocked me into making sure I keep a better track of it but when I selected that I earnt under 100k I genuinely believed that I did.

Do I call them or will they contact me when my SA is submitted?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 11/04/2025 19:31

Hasn't your accountant advised you?

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 19:31

Go on your journal and message the above

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 19:31

Oh…. And get yourself a new accountant

B1indEye · 11/04/2025 19:34

How do you not know how much you made? Who is getting the money from the customers?

CallIpswichNow · 11/04/2025 19:36

Under 30k to over 130k in a year? What the hell kind of small business are you running?!

wizzywig · 11/04/2025 19:36

Slightly off topic , but what changed to make your business grow?

SquirrelRed · 11/04/2025 19:36

Make sure you're registered for VAT aswell while you're sorting stuff

MidnightPatrol · 11/04/2025 19:36

So it’s actually based on how much you think you might earn… so they probably won’t penalise you.

How much have you actually paid yourself in FY24-25? Annoying to have discovered this now, as if it was a week ago you could have rectified through pension contributions.

Get a better accountant.

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 19:36

I rather imagine this particular fuck up is
one of a number op given the completely passive approach you have adopted towards your business finances for the past 5 years

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 19:37

Do you have any employees op?

ohshit89 · 11/04/2025 19:38

Funds are paid into the business account from customers and I pay myself a small wage out of that. I have invested quite a bit this year in various things (business related).

OP posts:
Househunters1 · 11/04/2025 19:39

Oh my god OP stop panicking. Get a better accountant. You can offset money to get below the threshold, there’s better allowances for the timeline for this for self employed, sacrifice income to change your net adjusted. Or change the business structure. It’s absolutely fine. Just get a better advisor to help fix this.

Why aren’t you a Ltd company?

IHeartHalloumi · 11/04/2025 19:40

Tax free child care is based on net income - I imagine that after business costs and any pension you have you'll be under £100K. Don't know about other aspects. But this is precisely what you pay the accountant for!

B1indEye · 11/04/2025 20:05

ohshit89 · 11/04/2025 19:38

Funds are paid into the business account from customers and I pay myself a small wage out of that. I have invested quite a bit this year in various things (business related).

Dont you know the log on details for the bank account? You're coming off as clueless. Surely you have to tell the customers how much to pay you, what kind of business doesnt send out bills?

HisNibs · 11/04/2025 20:34

Tbh your bigger problem is that you're not registered for VAT (threshold is £90K) and HMRC are going to want their 20% (of everything) pronto. I'm guessing that you just give your accountant a pile of stuff once a year and let them sort it out. That won't do when you've more than quadrupled your turnover. If they've not mentioned VAT, bin them. Get it sorted quick because the fines will quickly add up. From HMRC...
"The penalties for failing to register for VAT on time depend on the degree of lateness in registering: Not more than 9 months late: The penalty is 5% of the due VAT. More than 9 months but not more than 18 months late: The penalty is 10% of the due VAT. More than 18 months late: The penalty is 15% of the due VAT"

Hayley1256 · 11/04/2025 20:41

You need to discuss this with your account

Spirallingdownwards · 11/04/2025 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Amba1998 · 11/04/2025 20:44

ohshit89 · 11/04/2025 19:38

Funds are paid into the business account from customers and I pay myself a small wage out of that. I have invested quite a bit this year in various things (business related).

So then these are deducted as expenses before calculating profit. Is it a limited company or are you a sole trader?

ScrewedByFunding · 11/04/2025 20:46

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 19:31

Go on your journal and message the above

What journal? She's not claiming UC? I don't know of any other journal.

GoldfinchesInTheTree · 11/04/2025 20:47

Please tell me what business you are in. And how do you not notice an extra 70k??

ScrewedByFunding · 11/04/2025 20:50

HisNibs · 11/04/2025 20:34

Tbh your bigger problem is that you're not registered for VAT (threshold is £90K) and HMRC are going to want their 20% (of everything) pronto. I'm guessing that you just give your accountant a pile of stuff once a year and let them sort it out. That won't do when you've more than quadrupled your turnover. If they've not mentioned VAT, bin them. Get it sorted quick because the fines will quickly add up. From HMRC...
"The penalties for failing to register for VAT on time depend on the degree of lateness in registering: Not more than 9 months late: The penalty is 5% of the due VAT. More than 9 months but not more than 18 months late: The penalty is 10% of the due VAT. More than 18 months late: The penalty is 15% of the due VAT"

Pronto?? It will be due by 31st January 2026 like everyone else.

ACynicalDad · 11/04/2025 20:53

Lots of ways to offset, pay into a pension if you don't already, a good accountant can help you thought it.

BethDutton4President · 11/04/2025 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Fucks sake, what a vile thing to say

Eelqueen · 11/04/2025 21:03

BethDutton4President · 11/04/2025 20:53

Fucks sake, what a vile thing to say

Oh chill out!

HappyHolidai · 11/04/2025 21:05

Househunters1 · 11/04/2025 19:39

Oh my god OP stop panicking. Get a better accountant. You can offset money to get below the threshold, there’s better allowances for the timeline for this for self employed, sacrifice income to change your net adjusted. Or change the business structure. It’s absolutely fine. Just get a better advisor to help fix this.

Why aren’t you a Ltd company?

Edited

Being a limited company when totally clueless and taking no responsibility is... not a recipe for success.