Do I Need to File Self Assessment?

You must file SA if any of these apply: self-employed with trading income over £1,000, partner in a business partnership, rental income over £2,500, Capital Gains Tax to pay, HICBC applies, dividends over £10,000, savings interest over £10,000, untaxed foreign income (GOV.UK gives no minimum amount), or HMRC sent a notice to file. Use the official HMRC checker for confirmation.

Not for that alone. If the State Pension is your only income and goes over the Personal Allowance, GOV.UK says HMRC will send you a Simple Assessment tax bill. If you also have a job or a private pension, HMRC usually collects the tax through that PAYE tax code. Budget 2025 announced a Pension Tax Allowance, and Budget 2026 set out the detail, so that from 6 April 2027 pensioners whose total income is up to the value of the full new State Pension do not have to pay these small amounts of tax. It still has to be legislated.

No — HMRC official guidance since 2018 confirms directors do not need to file SA just for being a director, if all their income is PAYE'd and no other criteria apply. In practice HMRC still requests returns from many directors. Always check for an SA316 notice and apply the standard criteria.

The HICBC threshold rose from £50,000 to £60,000 (full charge at £80,000). The dividend allowance dropped to £500 (was £1,000). The CGT annual exempt amount halved to £3,000 (was £6,000). HMRC also removed the income threshold for PAYE-only taxpayers from 2024-25 (it was £100,000, then £150,000 for 2023-24), so income level alone no longer requires a return.

For 2025-26 (tax year ended 5 April 2026): register by 5 October 2026, paper return by 31 October 2026, online by 31 January 2027. Pay any tax owed by 31 January 2027. Late filing penalty is £100 automatic, plus daily £10/day after 3 months and 5%/£300 tiers at 6 and 12 months.

If your gross rental income is between £1,000 and £2,500, you can usually claim the £1,000 property allowance without filing SA. HMRC may collect any tax due via a PAYE coding adjustment. Above £2,500 gross, SA is required. At £1,000 or less, the allowance covers it entirely.

£100 automatic penalty immediately after 31 January, even if no tax is due. After 3 months, £10/day for up to 90 days. After 6 months, the greater of £300 or 5% of the tax owed. After 12 months, another £300 / 5% slice. Plus interest at HMRC's prevailing rate.

Call HMRC on 0300 200 3310 to request withdrawal of the notice. If they agree, you do not need to file. If they refuse, you must file even if the return is nil — otherwise you will still get the £100 late-filing penalty.

Yes. The 60-day CGT return reports one specific disposal; you still need to include the gain on your annual SA return because CGT interacts with your total income and band. Any extra tax (or refund) is reconciled on SA.

From April 2026, MTD for Income Tax applies to self-employed and landlords with combined income over £50,000 (£30,000 from April 2027, £20,000 from April 2028). You will keep digital records and submit quarterly updates + a final declaration — replacing the current SA return for those affected.