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Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

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Information You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return

[Updated November 2025]: If you’re self-employed in the UK and earn more than £1,000 after allowable deductions, you need to file a self-assessment tax return each year. It’s not only the self-employed, though. If you are on a higher income* or receive untaxed income from things like property rental, tips, commission, savings, investments, dividends, or foreign income, you also have to submit a return. Partners in business partnerships and those who made a capital gain resulting in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) also need to submit a return. You can check here if you’re not sure.

If you do have to fill in a self-assessment tax return, getting all the tax return fields filled in properly and the figures right can sometimes be difficult. That’s where professional help from companies like Taxfile is worth its weight in gold. But what information will your accountant or tax advisor need from you? In today’s guide, we’ll explain exactly what you’ll need to supply.

* (Those earning more than £100,000 for tax years up to and including 2022-23, or over £150,000 for the tax year 2023-24. Higher earners earning only through PAYE for tax years thereafter only need to submit a tax return if their tax was not collected correctly at source). You can check here if you’re not sure.

What Information Do You Need to Supply for Professional Help with Your Tax Return?

If you’re getting help filling in and submitting your tax return through an accountant or tax advisor like Taxfile, a list of what they will need from you follows below. You’ll need to supply information for the right financial tax year, of course, unless you have a different accounting period.

For the purpose of this post today, let’s assume information will be required for the tax year starting on 6 April 2024 and ending on 5 April 2025.

Here’s what will be needed:

Income-related information if applicable:

  • Copies of all employment income documents (P60s, P45s, and P11ds), as well as any unreimbursed employment expenses.
  • Copies of all pension income documents (P60s, state pension notices, etc.).
  • Details of bank and building society interest.
  • Details of all investment income (interest, dividends, etc.), as well as details of any investments that may qualify for relief, such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme.
  • Details of any self-employed income and expenses (schedules and paperwork).
  • Details of any rental income and expenses (schedules and paperwork).
  • Details of any assets that were sold (or gifted) and may be subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
  • Details of any other income received, including foreign income.

Potential tax relief information:

  • Details of any personal pension contributions made from taxed income.
  • Details of any gifts to charity using Gift Aid.

You’ll also need to confirm if there is any other information that may be relevant to the completion of your tax return.

Personal Information:

If you’re a new client or an existing client who hasn’t supplied them already, you’ll also need to provide the following:

  • A copy of your passport or driver’s licence. This is to comply with ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) and ‘Anti-Money Laundering’ (AML) regulations.
  • Confirmation of any changes to your personal details, such as a change of address.
  • If you or your partner receive Child Benefit, you’ll need to provide details.
  • If you have a student loan, you’ll need to provide details of the amount you paid during the year and the remaining balance as at April 5, 2025.

Once your accountant or tax advisor receives all of your information, they will be in a position to prepare your tax return. Once approved by you, they will be able to submit it to HMRC on your behalf.

Do You Need Help With Your Tax Return?

Taxfile would be delighted to help you with your self-assessment tax return — or any other type of tax return. We prepare and submit hundreds of tax returns every year for our clients as well as offering all the usual accountancy-related services like bookkeeping, VAT returns, end-of-year accounts for limited companies, arranging tax rebates for CIS sub-contractors and others, accounting for capital gains tax (CGT), payroll, auto-enrolment for workplace pensions and much more.  If it involves tax or accounting, we can help!

For help with any tax or accounting matter, call Taxfile on 020 8761 8000 or book your free 20-minute, no-obligation consultation here. Alternatively, send us a message and we’ll come right back to you. We’re tax advisors and accountants in Tulse Hill near Dulwich (SE21) in the South East.

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Contact Us
Don't Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! - Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

Don’t Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! – Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

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Don't Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! - Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

By Mohamed at Taxfile.

Have you ever thought about your pension? It might seem far away, but it’s super important to start thinking about it now! One of the key things that helps build your future pension is your National Insurance (NI) contributions.

What are NI Contributions?

Think of NI contributions like little building blocks for your future. When you work and earn money, some of that money goes towards your NI. These contributions help you qualify for things like the State Pension when you’re older.

Why is it Important to Check?

Sometimes, there might be gaps in your NI record. Maybe you didn’t earn enough in a year, were travelling, or something else happened. If you have gaps, it could mean you get less State Pension later on.

The Good News: You Can Fill the Gaps!

You can often fill these gaps by making voluntary NI contributions to fill the gaps between 2006 to 2018 This means you pay a bit extra now to make sure you have a stronger pension later.

Big Deadline Alert! April 5th, 2025

There’s a really important deadline coming up: April the 5th, 2025. This is the last day you can pay voluntary NI contributions to fill certain gaps in your record. After the 5th of April 2025, everyone will only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past 6 years.

Why the Rush?

  • Boost your pension because filling gaps means a bigger pension in the future.
  • Don’t miss out — after the 5th of April 2025, everyone will only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past 6 years.

What Should You Do?

  1. Check your NI record — it’s free and easy! You can check your NI record online through the government’s website.
  2. See if you have gaps — look for any years where you didn’t contribute enough.
  3. Think about voluntary contributions. If you have gaps, consider paying voluntary contributions.

Need Help? Taxfile Can Help!

If you’re feeling a bit confused or need help understanding your NI record, don’t worry! Taxfile is here to help. We can explain everything clearly and help you make the right decisions for your future.

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Contact Us

Taxfile are South London accountants and tax advisors based in Tulse Hill.

Capital Gains Tax Hike: A Blow to Investors

Capital Gains Tax Hike: A Blow to Investors

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Capital Gains Tax Hike: A Blow to Investors

October 2024’s Autumn Budget delivered a significant blow to investors with the announcement of increased Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates. Today, we explore the new rates, how they will affect the sale of assets, and how investors can mitigate their effects.

The New Capital Gains Tax Rates

Effective from 30th October 2024, the basic rate of CGT will rise from 10% to 18%, and the higher rate will increase from 20% to 24%.

What This Means for Investors

These changes will make it more expensive for investors to realise gains from selling assets like shares, bonds, and cryptocurrency. This could lead to a number of consequences, including:

  • Reduced investment activity — investors may be less inclined to sell assets, particularly if they expect to make significant gains;
  • A shift towards tax-efficient investments — investors may seek out tax-efficient investments, such as ISAs and pensions;
  • A greater need for tax planning — investors may require more sophisticated tax planning strategies to minimise tax liabilities.

How Can Investors Mitigate the Impact of the CGT Increases?

Investors have several ways to mitigate the worst effects of the CGT rate increases. They can:

  1. Seek professional advice — a good tax advisor like Taxfile can help investors understand the full impact of the changes and develop a tax-efficient strategy;
  2. Review their investment portfolios to identify the potential tax implications of the new CGT rates;
  3. Utilise tax-efficient investments, for example, through the use of tax-efficient wrappers like ISAs and pensions;
  4. Time investments wisely — carefully timing the sale of assets may help to significantly reduce CGT liabilities.

Taxfile is Here to Help

Taxfile is here to help proactive investors navigate the new tax landscape and protect wealth. Contact us today if you would like professional help with any tax or accountancy-related issue. We’ll be delighted to help. The first 20-minute consultation is free and without obligation.

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Contact Us

Taxfile are accountants in Tulse Hill in SE21, and Dulwich in South London.

Boost Your State Pension with Voluntary National Insurance Contributions

Boost Your State Pension with Voluntary National Insurance Contributions

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Boost Your State Pension with Voluntary National Insurance Contributions

As we approach retirement, ensuring a comfortable financial future becomes a top priority. The state pension, a crucial source of retirement income, is dependent on the number of qualifying years of National Insurance (NI) contributions you have made. While gaps in your NI record can diminish your state pension entitlement, there’s a solution: voluntary NI contributions.

To receive the full state pension, you need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. These years typically accumulate as you work, with contributions automatically deducted from your salary. However, there may be instances where you may not have earned enough to make mandatory NI contributions, leading to gaps in your record. Read more

Pension Contribution Deadline Extended

Deadline for Voluntary Insurance Contributions Extended to 5th April 2025

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Deadline for Voluntary Insurance Contributions Extended to 5th April 2025

The original deadline for buying National Insurance ‘credit’ was 31st July 2023, but you can now ‘buy’ incomplete years to boost your state pension until 5th April 2025. The extension was approved by the Government, giving HMRC more time to deal with the process.

You can view our original blog on what you need to do to plug the gaps in your National Insurance contributions here.

Boost State Pension by Plugging Gaps in National Insurance

Boost State Pension by Plugging Gaps in National Insurance

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IMPORTANT: the video mentions the original deadline in April 2023. This has now been extended to 5th April 2025.

Do you have gaps in your National Insurance record? If so, it could mean that you could get a lower State Pension when you reach state retirement age, particularly if you are aged between approximately 45 and 70 at the moment. Generally speaking, you need 10 years of contributions for a basic state pension and around 30 to 35 years for a full state pension. It does vary by circumstance though and, even with gaps, some people might have enough qualifying years for the full state pension already.

Urgently Check Whether You Have National Insurance Gaps

Our advice is to urgently check whether you do have any gaps in your National Insurance record. If so, in many cases it would be wise to make some one-off payments to plug any gaps for the years 2006 to 2016. However, there is limited time to do so despite the deadline for this opportunity having been extended from early April to the end of July 2023 [UPDATE: This has now been extended again to 5th April 2025]. Thereafter, the chance to fix all 11 years from 2006 to 2016 will be gone forever. Read more

New Taxfile Brochure - Download Here

New Taxfile Brochure – Download Here

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New Taxfile Brochure - Download Here.

The new Taxfile brochure is out and you can download it here. Even if you’re an existing client, it’s worth taking a look in case we can help you in ways you weren’t aware of. We can help anyone e.g. the self-employed, directors of limited companies, partners in partnerships, sole traders, retired people, landlords, taxi and cab drivers, construction workers and just about anyone.

The new brochure covers:

  • Self-assessment income tax returns;
  • Services for SMBs;The new brochure from Taxfile - accountants and tax advisers in Tulse Hill, Dulwich, South London & the South West.
  • Accounts work for limited companies;
  • Bookkeeping and bank reconciliation;
  • Payroll & PAYE tax and National Insurance, company pensions and more;
  • VAT help, including for VAT schemes, registration and VAT returns;
  • Company pensions (auto-enrolment etc.);
  • Corporation Tax returns;
  • Confirmation Statements;
  • Making Tax Digital (MTD);
  • CIS calculations and tax rebates for construction workers;
  • Help with tax complications;
  • Taxfile brochure - inside spread.Dealing with HMRC on your behalf;
  • Joining or leaving various tax schemes;
  • Capital Gains Tax (CGT) calculations and handling;
  • Tax calculations relating to property income for landlords;
  • Disclosures of income not previously taxed (e.g. from abroad);
  • And much more.

Forward to a Friend – Free Consultation

Please feel free to forward the new Taxfile brochure to a friend who could benefit from our accountancy and tax-related services. We offer a free 20-minute consultation for new clients, without obligation.

020 8761 8000 Book Appointment Download Brochure

We are open 6 days a week during February including Saturday mornings (by appointment) and later opening (until 6pm) on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Small Trader? Make the Most of These 2 Allowances!

Small Trader? Make the Most of These 2 Allowances!

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Small trader? Make the most of these 2 allowances!

Small traders with very modest incomes are currently eligible for a couple of very useful allowances. Both of these could save them money — and some paperwork:

1. Tax-Free Allowance for small traders

If you receive income of no more than £1000 per annum (before expenses) from property or trading income, you don’t need to tell HMRC, you don’t need to pay tax and usually you don’t need to do a self-assessment tax return. If you have both types of income and each earns you no more than £1000 gross per annum, you are usually eligible for the tax-free allowance in BOTH cases! There are exceptions, of course, but these are the general guidelines. Income from property or land speaks for itself, while ‘trading‘ would include things like self-employment, hiring out personal equipment or services like gardening, window cleaning or babysitting. Partnerships are not eligible.

2. Trading Income Allowance

If you are paying tax but have expenses below £1000 per annum, you could reduce the tax by claiming for ‘Trading Income Allowance’ instead of claiming for the actual expenses themselves. In effect, it’s like claiming for £1000 worth of expenses rather than the lower amount of expenses that you’ve incurred in reality. This aspect is all explained in greater detail, with a simple example, in our previous Trading Income Allowance article here.

It’s important to know, though, that you cannot claim both the Read more

Don't miss THIS on your self-assessment tax return!

Don’t Miss THIS on your Tax Return! (Checklist)

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Don't miss THIS on your self-assessment tax return! (Checklist)

The standard Self-Assessment Tax Return includes all the usual areas that you’d expect to have to confirm to HMRC. These include the obvious things like personal details, information about income for the period in question, any assets, dividends, interest received, pensions and so on.

However, there are a number of additional areas that you need to check and confirm before the return is submitted and filed with HMRC. It’s not an exhaustive list, but things people sometimes miss and that you need to check you have allowed for (if applicable) include:

  • Employment Income — have you confirmed any employment income? Have you supplied Taxfile, if we’re your tax agent or accountant, with copies of P60’s and P11D’s. Did you have any employment expenses?
  • Self-Employment Income or Partnership Income — have you confirmed any self-employed or partnership income and relevant expenses? Have you supplied all CIS vouchers, invoices, cash income etc. if applicable?
  • UK Land & Property Income — have you confirmed any rental income and relevant expenses for each property you perhaps rent out?
  • Foreign Income — did you receive any foreign income? Have you confirmed it?
  • Trust Income — did you receive any trust income or are you treated as having received any trust income?
  • Capital Gains — have you sold any assets or investments which may be subject to capital gains tax e.g. a rental house, stocks and shares etc?
  • Residence — were you, for all or part of the year, not resident, not ‘ordinarily resident’ or not ‘domiciled’ in the UK?
  • Investment Income — have you confirmed any bank/building society interest, dividends, etc?
  • Pension Income — are you in receipt of any? It needs confirming if so.
  • Any other income received that doesn’t fit into any of the above e.g. Job Seekers Allowance, Tax Credits? Child Benefit is an important one, especially if one parent is earning £50k or more. Marriage Allowance is another.
  • Do you have a pension that you pay into? If so, how much did you pay for the period in question?
  • Have you given any money to charity? Higher rate taxpayers can usually get extra tax relief on this.
  • Do you have a student loan?
  • Are you subject to the High Income Benefit Charge?
  • Do you use a service company?
  • Have you been paying your National Insurance?
  • Have you been keeping good records?

Taxfile will always prompt you to check for things like these if you’re our customer, before we submit your tax return on your behalf. As we say above, though, the list is not an exhaustive one, so there may be other information we need, depending upon your individual situation. The list of what HMRC requires each year also Read more

Holiday lettings: tax guide for landlords with furnished lets in the UK/EU

A Tax Guide for Landlords with Holiday Lets

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Holiday lettings: tax guide for landlords with furnished lets in the UK/EU

Do you have a holiday cottage, flat or apartment that you rent out to holidaymakers? If so, our handy ‘Holiday lettings’ guide for landlords could be very useful to you — and it could save you money. It’s packed full of useful information and tax tips that will help you to make the most of your holiday property, at the same time as keeping on the right side of the tax man.

The Pros

We’ve written a section all about the tax breaks that apply to qualifying holiday lets. These include capital allowances for things you pay for when fitting out your holiday property, the tax treatment of expenses, the ability to pay pension contributions on your profits, several types of relief (some of which may affect your exposure to Capital Gains Tax) and small business rate relief.

The Cons

There’s also a section in the guide that covers some of the downsides to tax on holiday lettings. These include the need to get your VAT Registration status and charges right (where applicable) and also the tax treatment of any trading losses.

Qualifying Conditions

Lastly, there’s a section that outlines the qualifying conditions that apply if you want to treat your property as a holiday let rather than as an ordinary rental property. That’s important because different tax rules apply to each category and you could miss out on some excellent tax breaks if you don’t get it right. For example, the holiday rental property must be fully furnished and allow for self-catering holidays. Also, the property must be available for a particular number of days per year and be rented out in a particular way. It should not be occupied by the same tenant(s) for more than Read more