Self emp - tax return!

[PermaShattered]

Hi all, some of you guys may remember me! Ages since I was here. Anyway, I've gone through all my figures this morning for my tax return . I'm a freelance journalist and earned just over £35,000 for 2010-11 with just approx £2k expenses. I had no intention of using an accountant as mine is simple but could I save more than he would charge?

Impossible to say. First of all, going forward I would want to talk about working through a company as you would not have to pay the c.£2,250 Class 4 NI you would pay in 2012/13 on those figures.

For 2010/11 (and 2011/12) the first target for expenses would be use of home, also professional fees and subscriptions and travel but whether that would add the c.£1,000 of expenses you would need (that would save you £290 in tax and NI which when grossed up should be enough to pay a good sole practitioner) is impossible to say.

Finding someone at this time of year is not going to be easy, I'd suggest you submit now 'as is' and potentially submit a revised return in March/April once you have found the right business partner.

I became a limited company last March and I could absolutely kick myself for not being incorporated a year earlier! At least I am now, better late than never. My accountant has just quoted me about £300 for doing my return but i have so few expenses that I'm just going to do it myself online. After this year, he'll be doing my company accounts anyway....
Re expenses - I've been a bit lazy so if this sounds a bit wrong please do tell! My household expenses - ie the proportioned part - I've taken last year's figure and increased it according to the relevant RPI, and put a notional figure for stationery and car, and that's about it really. Other than a Times subscription and maintenance of my website - not much else really.
I just do not have the time to go through all my household bills - not when i have deadline after deadline - and four children including a 9 month old!