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Can I Do Tax Return Myself?

Yes, you can do your own tax return in the UK if you are confident that you understand the rules and your tax affairs are relatively straightforward. HMRC provides an online Self Assessment service that allows you to complete and submit your return yourself.

Many people successfully file their own tax return every year, especially if they only have one source of self-employed income, rental income from a single property, or a few straightforward expenses to claim. However, if you have several income sources, own a limited company, have Capital Gains Tax to report, or are unsure what you can claim, it is often worth getting professional advice because mistakes can lead to paying too much tax or facing HMRC penalties.

If you are filing your own return for the first time, make sure you have your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), National Insurance number, details of your income, allowable expenses, and any other tax documents before you begin. If you are not yet registered, our guide on When to Register for Self Assessment: Don’t Miss the Deadline explains when you need to register and what deadlines apply.

How to Do Tax Return Myself?

Doing your own tax return is usually easier if you prepare everything before logging into your HMRC account. The process normally looks like this:

1. Register for Self Assessment if you have not already done so.
2. Sign in to your HMRC online account.
3. Gather all your income records, bank interest, dividends, rental income, or employment details.
4. Add any allowable business expenses or other tax reliefs you are entitled to claim.
5. Check every figure carefully before submitting the return.
6. Submit the return and make a note of how much tax you need to pay and the payment deadline.

The biggest mistakes people make are forgetting income, claiming expenses that are not allowable, or entering incorrect figures. Keeping good records throughout the year makes the whole process much easier.

If you are self-employed and have not yet registered with HMRC, you may also find our guide on How to Register as Self Employed for the First Time helpful before you complete your first return.

Can I Amend My Tax Return Myself?

Yes, in most cases you can amend your own Self Assessment tax return after you have submitted it. If you realise you have made a mistake, you can usually log back into your HMRC online account and correct the return yourself, provided you are still within HMRC’s amendment time limit.

Common reasons for amending a return include:

• Missing income.
• Forgetting to claim allowable expenses.
• Entering the wrong figures.
• Receiving additional tax information after submitting the return.

Once the amendment has been processed, HMRC will recalculate your tax. This could mean you need to pay more tax or that you are due a refund.

If the deadline for making an online amendment has already passed, you may still be able to ask HMRC to correct the return, although the process is different and may require you to contact them directly.

If your amendment relates to a change in your trading status or you have recently started trading again after previously stopping, our guide on How to Reactivate My UTR Number in the UK explains what happens to your UTR and Self Assessment record.

Should You Do Your Own Tax Return?

For many people, completing a tax return themselves is perfectly reasonable, especially when their finances are simple and they keep accurate records.

However, if you are unsure about the tax rules or your circumstances are more complicated, getting professional help can often save both time and money. A correctly prepared return reduces the risk of HMRC enquiries, penalties, and paying more tax than necessary.

The most important thing is to submit an accurate return on time and keep supporting records in case HMRC asks to see them later.

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