January can feel heavy. The clock is ticking, and your self assessment tax filing still sits on the list. Take a breath. You can get this done with a calm, simple plan.
Here is how to get sorted fast:
- Gather the key figures first.
- Check your bank feeds and payment apps match your records.
- File, then pay, and set a plan for payments on account.
A quick one-hour plan if you are starting today
Aim for tidy, not perfect. You can come back to tidy details later.
- Find your essentials: UTR, NI number, Government Gateway login, bank logins, and last year’s tax return.
- Pull income totals: invoices, sales reports, wages slips if you have PAYE, bank interest, rental statements, dividends. Download CSVs or PDFs.
- Pull expense totals: software, phone, travel, mileage, home working, training, professional fees, insurance, and small kit. If you are a company director, note salary and dividends separately.
- Check payment processors: Stripe, PayPal, SumUp, Shopify. Export gross sales, fees and net pay outs, then make sure these align to your bank.
- Check the bank feed: match bank lines to income and costs. Flag anything you do not recognise and add a simple note.
- List missing items: any gaps in income or costs. Set one short follow-up task for each.
If you still have time, start the return in your HMRC account. Enter the known figures and save. Progress beats perfection.
A simple two-day plan if you have more to sort with your self assessment tax filing
Day 1, morning:
- Sort your income by source. Self-employed, PAYE, dividends, bank interest, rental. Keep totals and supporting files.
Day 1, afternoon:
- Sort your costs into clear categories. Keep it simple: travel, phone, software, insurance, tools and kit, training, home working.
Day 2, morning:
- Recheck payment apps and bank lines. Fees reduce your profit, so do not miss them.
Day 2, afternoon:
- Complete the return sections in order. Save each page. Step away for 15 minutes, then proofread once more.
This steady pace reduces errors and keeps your head clear.
Common expense claims you might be missing
- Home working: use HMRC’s simplified rate, or apportion actual bills with a fair method.
- Mileage: log business miles; use HMRC’s approved rates. Fuel and repairs are covered by the rate, so do not claim those twice.
- Phone and internet: claim the business share. Keep it reasonable.
- Software and apps: include cloud tools you use for work.
- Protective clothes or trade kit: only if needed for your trade. Everyday clothes are not allowable.
- Training: update and maintain skills linked to your trade is usually fine. New career training is not.
If you want more examples of small business deductions, our guide on business owner deductions can help.
How to check bank feeds and payment processors
- For bank feeds: look for duplicates or missing days. Where a line is unclear, add a short note so future you understands it.
- For Stripe, PayPal and similar: download a summary of gross sales, fees and net payouts. Make sure the bank shows the net payout and your records include the fees as costs.
- For cash sales: write a dated note and bank the cash where possible. Keep receipts or till reports.
Small checks like these prevent bigger headaches later.
Payments on account in plain English
Payments on account are advance payments towards next year’s tax. HMRC asks for them when your tax bill is high enough and not mostly collected through PAYE.
- You usually pay half with your 31 January bill, and half by 31 July.
- They are based on this year’s tax, not including capital gains or student loan parts.
- If your income will drop, you can ask to reduce them. Be honest with the estimate, as HMRC can charge interest if you reduce too far.
Think of it as spreading next year’s tax over two chunks. It helps you avoid one big bill next January.
The biggest last-minute mistakes to avoid
- Missing income: forgetting bank interest, small dividends or older invoices paid late.
- Double counting: recording a payment processor pay out as income, then also counting the original sale. Record the sale once and the fees as a cost.
- Guessing categories: it is better to keep a cost as “general” than force it into the wrong place. You can tidy later.
- No proof: keep a receipt or bank line for every claim. A photo in a cloud folder is fine.
- Filing late or not paying: a short return with correct totals is better than a perfect one filed late. You can file an amendment later if needed.
What to do if you think you will miss the deadline
Do not wait. File as much as you can now and pay what you reasonably estimate. This reduces penalties and interest.
Here is a simple script for calling HMRC:
- “Hello. I need help with my Self Assessment Tax Filing. I am working to file but may be late. I want to pay an estimate today to reduce any charges. Can you confirm my options to file, arrange a Time to Pay if needed, and note this call on my record, please?”
If you have a tax bill and cannot pay in full, ask HMRC about Time to Pay. This is a payment plan. Be ready with your figures and a realistic monthly amount.
Should you get an accountant to do your return?
An accountant helps when:
- You have more than one income source, like self-employed plus PAYE and dividends.
- You are unsure what you can claim.
- You want help with payments on account or tax planning for this year.
If you like a local team and want calm, steady support, speaking to a tax accountant Bedford can make your self assessment tax filing simpler. If money is tight, see the free options below first.
Where to get free or low-cost help in the UK
- HMRC helpline and online guides: good for process and deadlines.
- GOV.UK community forums: simple questions and signposts.
- Citizens Advice: support if you are worried about debt or penalties.
- Local small business groups: peers often share practical tips.
- Some accountants publish free guides and host short sessions. Look for clear, plain-English resources.
What if you cannot afford an accountant right now
Use software with bank feeds and receipt capture. Start with the basics only.
Keep one tidy spreadsheet with monthly income and costs, plus receipts in a dated folder.
- File on time with the best figures you have, then amend if needed. Accuracy improves over time.
- Save a small amount each month for next year’s fee or tax bill. Even £25 a week helps.
- If you later want a hand, quarter accountants can step in for a short review or to file the return. Support can be light touch if that suits you.
Quick checks before you press submit
- Names, NI number and UTR match your records.
- Income totals agree to your bank and app reports.
- Costs look reasonable for your trade and size.
- Payments on account make sense, and you have set a reminder for 31 July.
- Bank details are saved for paying the bill.
Read once more, then file. Take a screenshot of the submission page and save your calculation PDF.
Summary: calm, simple, done
You do not need a perfect system to file on time. Gather the key figures, check bank feeds and payment apps, claim the obvious costs, and understand payments on account. If you may run late, tell HMRC, pay what you can, and ask about Time to Pay. If you want a steady hand, a friendly Bedford accountant can keep this simple next year. And if you need a comparison on software for tidy records, our guide on Xero vs QuickBooks can help you choose.
