Are there any accounts about please?

[anxiousaboutlife]

NC for this. I've run my own business since Feb 2020 after I had a bit of a breakdown at my old job and quit while on stress-related leave. As a result I still only work part-time and earn less than 20k a year.

When I did my most recent return in November I realised I'd messed up and hadn't been tracking things as closely as I should have been. I fixed the return but then looked back on 22/23 and realised I'd done the same thing then.

I've spoken to extra support at HMRC who to be fair, have been really kind but not especially helpful about putting things right - so I've got an appt. with a chartered accountant on Tuesday. Basically, am I okay to just pass this onto him and he can deal with HMRC for me? I have my records, bank statements, software etc. for him to look at. My mental health has been in tatters over this and I've barely slept or eaten in a week.

Every time I try and look at the figures, my head just starts swimming and I shut down and can't focus. I'm scared to correct it on my own in case I fuck up even more. Please be kind, this has been awful for me and I'm due back at work Monday feeling even worse than I did at the start of the holidays 😭

What do you want to know?
It is very easy to make an adjustment.
Look at your 22/23 return submitted. Then once you've adjusted your figures, you just submit 22/23 version 2. They will accept it and upload it.

I know I can do an adjustment - I just want to know if I can get an accountant to deal with this for me if I give him all the relevant documents and statements?

I can't face looking at it anymore as everytime I start, I get really overwhelmed and just want to throw up 😔I have awful anxiety and have spiralled down to the worst case scenarios and I'm just terrified that HMRC are going to come after me for this.

Just breathe
In my experience (including owing HMRC a LOT of money at one point due to a combination of a shitty Accountant and me sticking my head in the sand) they are actually a lot nicer and more helpful than you would expect. They want their money ASAP but its not in their interest to bankrupt you or close your busness because that way they may get nothing.
Keep speaking to them, make payments as soon as you can and ask them to set up a payment plan. Apologise and take responsibility and tell them how you will ensure you won't be in this situation again and they will most likely be really helpful.
An Accountant can help you get things in order but HMRC react better to individuals than professionals sometimes and I am not sure an Accountant will be able to do much. I appreciate its difficult if you have MH issues though
Good Luck

Yes. You can give your accountant permission to act on your behalf with HMRC.

Thank you @Hoppinggreen - I think I still need to speak to an accountant, everytime I try doing it on my own I just want to be sick :/

In terms of payment I may not actually owe anything extra as there were legitimate expenses missed as well as income, if that makes sense.

Thanks @Sprig1 .

I hope it all works out for you and if you feel its best to get an Accountant to do it for you then for enough.
I am sure it will work out, if you DO owe money HMRC will probably be reasonable about it

People who have accountants get them to do all their tax returns, so yes if you get an accountant he can sort it all out for you at a price. As others have said if you know what went wrong you can sort it out yourself for free.

I do know what went wrong but I think for peace of mind I would rather get a professional to go over everything - luckily my parents can help financially and cover the costs involved.

Thank you - luckily Tuesday isn't too far away.

I wish I could do it myself - if I was mentally well then I wouldn't be as worried, but I don't trust myself not to make a silly mistake which could then get me penalised.

Yea they can also do a balancing payment for you if you've missed something in the past & it's too late to correct it. But on your situation it'll be fine

Thanks! This is what I was hoping for.