Tax Return Question

[Conkerqueen]

It’s my first year doing a tax return that meets the threshold for actually paying tax, I have a quick question that hopefully I can get an answer for here before trying HMRC

So I have completed my return (not submitted) it says:

total amount due for 2021-2022 - £3,200.68
(fine, no confusion there)

Then it says-

plus
First payment on account for 2022-2023 £1,600.34

What is this payment for? Is it due with the 2021-2022 payment? Or will it be due January 2024? But again why?

My earnings for 2021-2022 were £14,000 so I was expecting a tax bill of around £2,800, so the 3,200 isn’t far off what I had expected, I’m just confused about this additional £1,600

Can I ask if you did it yourself? I’m guessing you did? Also doing my first one this year and have got most of it sorted out but just not moved from quick books yet but was considering phoning an accountant to help me. Can’t decide if I need to or if I can manage on my own

@BCxx yes I did it myself! It was pretty straight forward just input the numbers you’ve got. I have phoned Hmrc previous years and they are incredibly helpful if you get stuck

@BCxx Also you can fill it all out but not submit it so you can get advice and log back in and edit it!

When they bring in making tax digital I think it will change and you will have to pay more often. That's not coming in for another few years though.

Personally I get my accountant to do my tax return - it's safer. HMRC are very unforgiving of mistakes.

This was my first year doing it and I used an accountant too, they've already saved me what I paid them.