Self Assessment can look simple at first. You collect your income figures, enter your expenses, check the calculation and send the return to HMRC. For some people, it really can be that simple. For others, one tax return can involve several income sources, business costs, rental property, investments and payments on account.



You do not have to use an accountant to submit a Self Assessment tax return. HMRC allows taxpayers to prepare and file their own returns. The more useful question is whether you understand what needs to go into your return.



A missing income source or an incorrect expense claim can change the tax calculation. This is why some taxpayers file themselves while others use a self assessment tax return accountant. Your choice should depend on your records, income and tax position, rather than fear of the form itself.



Can You Complete Self Assessment Yourself



Yes, you can prepare and submit your own Self Assessment return. You do not need an accountant simply because HMRC has asked you to file.



Doing it yourself may suit you if your tax affairs are simple. A sole trader with one business, clear sales records and a small number of expenses may feel comfortable preparing the figures. The same may apply to someone who has one simple source of untaxed income and understands how it should be reported.



You should still give yourself enough time. Filing a return involves more than copying numbers from your bank account. You need to know which income belongs in the tax year and which expenses meet HMRC rules. You should also keep records that support the figures you report.



HMRC lets registered taxpayers file their returns online. You can start preparing the return after the relevant tax year has ended. There is no reason to wait until January if your information is already available.



First Check Whether You Need to File a Tax Return



Before worrying about accountants or tax software, check whether you actually need Self Assessment. Not everyone who earns money outside employment automatically has the same filing duties.



For the 2025 to 2026 tax year, you normally need to send a return if you were self employed as a sole trader and earned more than £1,000 before deducting expenses. Partners in business partnerships also need to file. Other circumstances can create a filing requirement as well.



You may need to report income from renting property, savings, dividends or overseas sources. Capital gains can also affect your position. People who need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge may have further reporting requirements.



Your personal circumstances matter. Rather than assuming that you need a return, use HMRC's current guidance or its online checking service.



When Does Self Assessment Become Harder to Do Yourself?



The amount of money you earn does not always tell you how difficult your tax return will be. The type of income can matter just as much.



Consider two taxpayers. One is a sole trader with regular monthly income and a few business expenses. The other has employment income, a rental property, dividends and a gain from selling shares. The second person may have fewer transactions but more tax questions.



Property income can require separate figures for rent and relevant costs. Capital gains have their own rules. Foreign income can raise questions about where income arose and how it should be reported in the UK.



HMRC provides supplementary sections for several types of income and gains. These include employment, self employment, UK property, foreign income and capital gains.



This is where many people decide whether they still want to prepare the return themselves. The issue is no longer entering numbers. It is knowing which numbers belong where and how the rules apply.



What Does a Self Assessment Tax Return Accountant Actually Do?



An accountants in leeds,UK should do more than take your total income and type it into software. They first need to understand what happened during the tax year.



For a sole trader, this can involve reviewing business income and allowable costs. For a landlord, it can mean checking rental income and property expenses. Someone with several income sources may need employment records, dividend details, savings information and other documents reviewed together.



An accountant can then prepare the figures needed for the return and calculate the resulting tax position. They may also identify missing information before the return goes to HMRC.



You can authorise an accountant or tax adviser to act as your tax agent. This allows them to deal with HMRC for the tax services covered by the authorisation. However, using an agent does not remove your own responsibility for your tax affairs.



What Information Will You Need for Self Assessment?



Good records make Self Assessment much easier, whether you file yourself or use an accountant.



A sole trader may need sales invoices, expense receipts and business bank records. If you also work as an employee, you may need details of employment income and tax already deducted. Depending on your circumstances, you might also need pension, savings or dividend information.



Landlords should keep records of rent received and relevant property costs. If you sold shares, property or another asset, you may need purchase and sale information to work out the gain.



Do not rely only on your bank balance. A bank statement shows money moving in and out, but it does not always explain the tax treatment of each transaction.



If an accountant prepares the return, giving them organised records early can reduce unnecessary questions near the filing deadline.



What Is the Real Difference Between Filing Yourself and Using an Accountant?



The biggest difference is responsibility for preparing the figures.



When you file yourself, you need to decide how each source of income should be reported. You also need to decide whether an expense can be deducted and whether any other tax rules apply to your circumstances.



Tax software can perform calculations, but it still depends on the information entered.



An accountant brings tax knowledge into that process. This can matter when the answer is not obvious. A sole trader might use part of their home for work. A landlord may have several types of property costs. Someone may have started or closed a business during the tax year.



These situations do not automatically mean you need an accountant. They simply mean you should understand the relevant rules before submitting your return.



Can an Accountant Help You Pay Less Tax?



An accountant cannot simply reduce a tax bill because you hired them. Your tax should follow the rules that apply to your income and circumstances.



What they can do is check whether you have calculated your taxable income correctly. They may identify allowable costs or relevant reliefs that you overlooked. They can also question expenses that should not have been claimed.



This works both ways. Good tax work is about arriving at the correct figure, not finding a way to make every tax bill smaller.



The same principle applies when filing yourself. Do not claim an expense simply because it feels connected to your work. Check whether HMRC rules allow the deduction.



Common Self Assessment Mistakes to Avoid



One common problem is leaving the work too late. When someone starts gathering a full year's records in January, missing receipts and unexplained payments become harder to resolve.



Another mistake is forgetting a source of income. A taxpayer may focus on their main business and overlook rental income, interest, dividends or another source that needs reporting.



Expenses can also cause problems. A cost appearing on a business bank statement does not automatically make it an allowable tax expense. Personal spending and business costs need to be identified correctly.



You should also make sure you are working with information from the right tax year. The UK tax year normally runs from 6 April to 5 April.



Before submitting, review the return as a whole. Ask whether all income has been considered and whether you can support the figures with records.



Do Not Forget About Payments on Account



Payments on account often cause confusion, especially for people receiving their first larger Self Assessment bill.



Where the rules apply, HMRC may ask you to make advance payments towards the following year's tax bill. There are normally two payments, due on 31 January and 31 July. Each is usually half of the relevant previous year's tax liability.



This can make the January payment look much larger than expected. You might need to pay the remaining tax for one year alongside the first payment towards the next year.



Knowing about this before you file helps with cash planning. If you use an accountant, ask them to explain the full amount due and what each part relates to.



When Should You Start Preparing Your Return?



Treat the filing deadline as the final date, not the date to start the work.



For the 2025 to 2026 tax year, the normal paper filing deadline is 31 October 2026. The online filing deadline is 31 January 2027. Tax due under Self Assessment is also normally payable by 31 January.



Preparing the return earlier gives you time to deal with missing information. More importantly, you can find out how much tax may be due before the payment deadline arrives.



A sole trader who completes their figures months earlier has more time to plan for the bill than someone who discovers the amount in late January.



How Long Should You Keep Your Self Assessment Records?



Filing the return does not mean you can immediately discard the records behind it.



Record keeping periods depend on your circumstances. For self employed people, HMRC generally requires business records to be kept for at least five years after the 31 January submission deadline for the relevant tax year.



Records can include invoices, receipts, bank information and evidence supporting expenses.



Keeping organised digital records can also make future returns easier. Instead of rebuilding a year's finances from bank statements, you already have the information stored throughout the year.



This is becoming even more relevant because Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is changing how some sole traders and landlords maintain and report their records.



When Is an Accountant Worth Considering?



There is no income level at which everyone suddenly needs an accountant. Complexity is often a better test.



You may want help if you have several businesses, property income, foreign income or capital gains. You might also seek advice if your records are incomplete or your tax position changed during the year.



Time is another factor. A self employed person may understand their records but not want to spend evenings reading tax guidance and preparing a return.



You should also consider getting help when you are unsure about a specific tax treatment. Guessing because the filing deadline is close can create more work later.



If you choose an accountant, explain your circumstances before agreeing to the service. Ask what they need from you, what they will check and whether filing the return is included in the quoted fee.



What Changes Under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?



Making Tax Digital is changing record keeping for some people who currently use Self Assessment.



From April 2026, qualifying sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 must follow Making Tax Digital for Income Tax rules. The threshold falls to above £30,000 from April 2027 and above £20,000 from April 2028.



Those within the rules need compatible software to maintain digital records. They also need to send quarterly updates to HMRC.



This makes regular bookkeeping more important. Waiting until the end of the year to organise a bag of receipts will become less practical for people within the system.



An accountant can help with the process, but business owners still need to provide accurate information throughout the year.



Frequently Asked Questions



Do I legally need an accountant for Self Assessment?



No. You can prepare and submit your own Self Assessment return. You can also appoint an accountant or tax adviser to deal with relevant tax matters for you.



Can an accountant submit my return to HMRC?



Yes. Once properly authorised, a tax agent can submit the return and deal with HMRC for the services covered by the authorisation.



Should a sole trader use an accountant?



Not every sole trader needs one. A simple business with good records may be manageable without accounting help. More complex income or tax issues may make advice useful.



Is accounting software enough for Self Assessment?



Software can organise records and perform calculations. You still need to enter the correct information and understand how your income and expenses should be treated.



Should I check a return prepared by my accountant?



Yes. Read the return and make sure the information reflects what you provided. Ask about anything you do not understand before it goes to HMRC.



Final Thoughts



Doing your own Self Assessment can make sense when your income is simple, your records are organised and you understand the tax rules that apply to you. There is no requirement to hire an accountant simply because you need to submit a return.



The decision becomes different when several sources of income, rental property, capital gains or other tax issues are involved. In these cases, preparing the correct figures may matter more than completing the online form itself.



If you decide to use a self assessment tax return accountant, choose someone who asks about your full circumstances rather than simply collecting a few totals. Whether you file yourself or get help, the goal remains the same: report the right information, keep supporting records and meet the relevant HMRC deadlines.