Tax return. Self assessment

[david1979]

My elderly father has somehow got himself a self assessment tax form. He says it's because he needs to pay tax on his dividends (held in the old fashioned way of certification) and interest from savings as they amount to a few thousand pounds.

He has made himself very ill worrying about it all to the extent Dr was thinking about hospital I am going to look at it for him now I know what's worrying him.

Are there any online guides people would recommend. As I've never done one before.

He has the paper forms

The HMRC has lots of on line help for completing SA forms. Just get onto their web site.

I use an Accountant to do mine because I dread form filling.

If your dad has such a good return on his dividends and savings, just ring an accountancy company to get their help. It will take the worry away from you both and be worth every penny. The Accountant will tell you what certificates and paperwork they need and will het it done! Go for it!

If it’s straight forward and just about the dividends just ring up the hmrc helpline but do it sooner than later as aren’t many advisors anymore.
paper return deadline is October

Probably easier to register an online account and do it online.
The online self assessment form is straight forward and just leads you through each section, put the figures in and then gives you the calculation at the end.

There are FAQs and tax calculators on Tax Scouts, I’ve also used them for straightforward tax returns in the past.

As others have said, you might be able to figure it out yourself (I’d register for online filing if possible) but otherwise, if you can throw £170 at it, they’ll prepare and file it for you. Good luck!

If he has all the paperwork together, it is pretty simple to go through the HMRC online system. It asks you one thing at a time and builds the form you need, much easier than a paper form, but given the situation, an accountant may well be a good investment. I had one years ago and once they'd done it once I pretty much copied it in future years. Think about selling up to his capital gains tax limit each year and buying back in an ISA and it will simplify his taxes.

Please don’t worry about it, if you don’t want to do a Tax Return, contact an Accountant who will do it for him, it shouldn’t cost too much and very straightforward for them. I worked for an Accountant, and had quite a few clients who paid the tax on interest this way.

If it’s just dividends and interest, you don’t need an accountant. Gather the documents. Register an online account, and enter the value of each in the right place. There will be lots of items you don’t understand. But you will recognise savings interest and dividends. I have been doing it for years for child benefit, and have to enter both of these even though they were in the 10s. You will also need a list of gift aids you have signed.

It is simple if its just dividend and interest income as long as he has the paperwork so you know the figures. Either follow the guidance and send off the paper forms by 31st October or register for online self assessment which will also buy you more time as you've got until 31st Jan 25. Assuming you are talking about a 2024 tax return.

If you really can't face it and it would stop your dad worrying get an accountant to do it. We would probably charge around £150 for this sort of tax return but we would deal with everything including reminding him of when to make payments and talking to HMRC for him if necessary. We have several elderly clients who just bring us every letter they get from HMRC all year and we deal with it all for the tax return fee, no charge for sitting in reception with a cup of tea and a biscuit while we explain things.

If your dad is that stressed about it then I second (third?) the advice to get an accountant to do it. It doesn’t sound like it’s a particularly complicated tax return and probably wouldn’t cost more than £200. They will take care of everything for you.

Otherwise HMRC have good advice on how to fill in tax returns and it’s not too difficult to do.