Last-Minute Tax Return? You Don’t Need An Accountant

The Self Assessment tax return deadline is just over the hill. Are you ready for it? Too many taxpayers like to wait, and wait, until they have no choice but to scramble for forms and records.

It’s tempting to leave this all to an accountant, who may pull things together in the final days of the month. After all, they’re assumed to be the best option for skin-of-the-teeth Self Assessments that get the approval of HMRC.

But don’t be so sure… Here, instead, we have another solution for how to do a Self Assessment tax return yourself, especially if you’ve been turned away from busy accountants…

Why accountants fall short of the mark

Let’s imagine you have less than a week to file a Self Assessment tax return. After calling your accountant, they agree to perform the task on your behalf. With just a few days’ notice, they’ll begin to look back over your financial year, seeing where dates, payments and records line up. They’re likely to ask for a meeting or the transfer of necessary details.

In any case, that’s (potentially) a lot of work. They may be on the phone, or speaking via email, at several points until deadline day. Indeed, they may just flat-out refuse to take the workload on, as it is one of the busiest times of the year for accountants whose clients must meet the deadline too. Many people panic, thinking this excludes them from getting any help as they contemplate how to file a Self Assessment tax return.

But even if you do manage to land a willing accountant, there’s no guarantee of their value. Not all accountants are created equal. Bargain services can seem attractive, yet may provide little in the way of guidance to help you cross-check and minimise your tax bill.

A typical accountant will charge £250 or so for a Self Assessment tax return. That’s a disproportionate amount of cash to pay for something that may have just slipped your mind…

Tax software is your leading light forward

So what else can leap to the rescue? How can accountants be taken from the equation, without threatening your finances or relationship with the taxman?

The answer is simple, or SimpleTax for that matter. Our tax return software is just £25 per tax year (Silver Package), a mere 10% of what a dependable accountant would charge. Once subscribed, access via the web or mobile app on your tablet, desktop or mobile to start filling out your Self Assessment.

SimpleTax provides the forms you’ll need to file your Self Assessment online, allowing you to submit your tax return directly to HMRC. Then, next year, your data can be automatically transferred onto your new tax return, to save even more time on your finances.

There’s no reason to hit the panic button… SimpleTax can quickly and easily prep your submission, cutting out long, frantic hours under pressure. You’ll save big on accountancy hire and gain a resource you can trust. To learn more, see what our software is made of.

Blog content is for information purposes and over time may become outdated, although we do strive to keep it current. It's written to help you understand your Tax's and is not to be relied upon as professional accounting, tax and legal advice due to differences in everyone's circumstances. For additional help please contact our support team or HMRC.