January 4th 2017.



When is the deadline for self-assessment tax returns?
The deadline is midnight on January 31st. But the key thing is to ensure that you’ve got a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number, and that you’re registered with the online government gateway ahead of this deadline.

Why is it important to act sooner rather than later?
It can take up to ten working days for you to receive your UTR, then a further ten working days to obtain your government gateway ID – sometimes longer.

Therefore, we recommend that you make a start on completing your tax return online no later than January 11th. If you live overseas, each stage can take up to 21 working days, so starting the process even earlier is crucial.

You also need to make sure you’ve given yourself plenty of time to gather evidence, such as your P60. If you’ve lost any key documents, you’ll need to source them elsewhere or wait for replacements to be sent out.

Furthermore, it’s a good idea to leave some wiggle room in your schedule in case you have any questions about your self assessment form, allowing time to seek advice.

What happens if you can’t find your UTR number?
If you can’t find your UTR number, it’s vital to contact HMRC as soon as possible, because the suggested deadline (20th December 2016) for registration has already passed.

It may be that you’ve registered and simply......


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