Help I'm taking my head out of the sand, is there anyone freelancers whose services include on-line self assessment

[RedtartanLass]

This is the first year (from April 2008) that we have been renting property as holiday rents, only because we couldn't sell the blinkin' things. I have kept accurate books of incomings and outgoings and have been putting off and putting off teh self-assemment thing. We have not made a proift at all this year, is there anyone out there in mumsnet land that I can pay to do this for me.

SOrry about the spelling, a bit distressed. I know I know, my own fault!! [rtl scurries away to find a nice sand pit, to put her head in again!]

If you have got all the figures to hand then it really is easy to do it yourself online. You will need your income and outgoings from the rental plus agents fees, maintenance, loan details and bank interest from you statements.
You just fill in the boxes and it's done. You don't have to fill it in all at once you can do dome pages and then save and go back later.
If you have not already registered online and got your password, you had better hurry up because it takes a while for it to come in the post. Don't put it off any more, DO IT NOW!

I could do it for you, but have you registered with HMRC to do it online already? it takes a few days to get the code.

2nd Eddas - are you registered for online?

Are you talking about the tax year from April 2008? If so then you will not have to fill in a tax return til next year.

good point megb, missed that bit!

If you are not registered to do it on line you're probably too late to do it yourself now but it's dead easy if you have registered. I fyou haven't then I suppose you need someone who is already registered to do it on behalf of clients.

Oh wow thanks for all the replies. It's times like this you appreciate the support on mnet and remember why you love it so much. Thanks tinytalker I have now taken your advice and registered and thanks to MegBusset for pointing out I don't have to fill the return until next year. I will so sleep easier tonight!!! Eddas and squirrel when is the earliest I can fill in for next year and can I cat you? [RTL shuffles a bit and coughs nervously in the presence of her mnet hero, xenia and is rendered speachless]

Now if only someone could help on how to stop my 3yr old dd from pooing in her pants and how to get rid of her 23yr old ds1 from the nest

did you sleep easier?

The tax year ends on 5th april so in theory you could do it straight away. But you'll need things like interest statements from your bank, P60 from any employer etc etc, so in reality i'd think May would be the earliest you could do it

Make sure you follow the instructions for registering online once you get your code, even though you won't use it this year. The code only lasts 28 days after which you'd have to go through the whole process again

once again I 2nd Eddas.
and can't help on the children issues

This is the first year (from April 2008) that we have been renting property as holiday rents.

Why doesn't she have to fill in the return until next year? If the income was in the tax year 08/09 surely it goes on the 08/09 tax return?

yes - but it is the 07/08 tax return which is due now (by 31 Jan 09).
The 08/09 tax year hasn't ended yet, so she can't do the returns until 6 Apr 09 at the earliest, and has until 31 Jan 10 to do so.

Oh of course. That's true. She has nearly a year to do it in that case.

Hi RL,

I see you've had lots of good advice on the technical aspects of what to do - I suppose one of the risks is that if you don't have to do it till next year, then you may end up in a similar rush in the last week of January 2010.

Completing my accounts and filing my tax return has never been one of my favourite tasks, and like many people I used to put myself under a load of stress by ignoring the issue until the last possible moment then rushing around trying to find the log on codes I'd been sent the previous year.

IN the last couple of years, I have blocked out a couple of days in my diary in November (rubbish time of the year for anything else) and have made an arrangement with a friend of mine who is also self-employed. We agree to get our boring paperwork done, then we have a day out at a spa to reward ourselves.

It's worked for me for a couple of years, and saved me the 10% surcharge that i was paying my accountant for submitting my accounts sp close to the deadline.

notsoclever - excellent idea, will see if I can get it done in May before the mad summer rush! Please don't beat me if I'm back here in Jnauary 2010 panicing again!

Procastinators unite...........tomorrow!

care... if trading started 01 april 2008, the first 5 days would fall within the 2007/2008 tax year and accounts would be due immediately.

That is true - I (stupidly) registered as self-employed from 1st April and filled in a tax return with a lot of blanks in it (as I didn't do anything self-employed until after 5th April).

Idris, don't worry, the tax man is NOT interested in 5 days! If your self-employed tax year runs from April 1st to 31st March, he is quite happy with that. As long as you declare ALL in one year and you are consistent with how you report your income/outgoings, he will be happy. I have clients whose year ends are 31st March and that is the data I use to fill in their tax returns.

I was quite happy doing it as I ended up getting a tax rebate due to charitable donations and the fact I was employed up until then.