Need to do a tax return for the first time? Tell HMRC by 5 October

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The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has supported 8,200 self-employed people in the borough of Rochdale

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding people who need to complete a tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year to let HMRC know by 5 October 2022.

You can do this by registering for Self Assessment.

If you are self-employed, a new partner in a business partnership or have received any untaxed income and need to complete a tax return you first need to register with HMRC to receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) which you will need in order to file a return.

The tax return deadline for the 2021 to 2022 tax year is 31 October 2022 for those completed on paper forms, and 31 January 2023 for online returns.

HMRC is encouraging people to plan ahead to give themselves the best chance to complete their Self Assessment on time. Those who file early will benefit from knowing what they owe, allowing them to budget and pay at a time that suits them. If a refund is due, you can get it back quicker.

Visit GOV.UK to register for Self Assessment.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “By registering early, Self Assessment customers will have plenty of time to prepare and access all the help available to them before they start their first tax return. Help and support is available to anyone completing a return, just search ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK.”

You can check if you need to complete a tax return by using the free online tool on GOV.UK. People who are new to Self Assessment for the 2021 to 2022 tax year may include:

• those who are newly self-employed and earned more than £1,000
• a new partner in a business partnership
• those who have received any untaxed income
• those claiming Child Benefit but they or their partner have an income above £50,000

Anyone who is self-employed must also register for Class 2 National Insurance contributions.

The easiest way to complete a tax return is online. Once you are registered for Self Assessment, you can use your UTR to access your tax return, as well as details of your income or earnings and other financial records. Detailed information on what documents are needed for Self Assessment are on GOV.UK.

Anyone who has already filed their tax return but still need to pay any tax owed, they can visit GOV.UK to find out more about the payment options. Self Assessment payments can be made quickly and securely through the free HMRC app. If anyone is worried about paying their tax bill, support is available on GOV.UK, for example if customers are unable to pay in full, they may be able to set up a monthly payment plan online if the tax owed is less than £30,000.

Be alert to the risk of criminals emailing, calling or texting claiming to be from HMRC. Scams come in many forms - some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a tax rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing and HMRC advises people to take their time and check scams advice by searching for ‘HMRC scams’ on GOV.UK. HMRC also urges people never to share their HMRC login details. Someone using them could steal from the you or make a fraudulent claim in your name.