Filing a Self Assessment tax return can feel stressful for many clients. As accountants, you are often the first person they turn to with questions. Giving clear, simple answers makes them feel confident and saves you time.
At Stellaripe, we help accountants during Self Assessment season by handling preparation, paperwork, and client questions. This allows you to focus on advising clients, while we take care of the admin work. Here are the 10 most common Self Assessment questions clients ask and how accountants can answer them.
1. Who needs to file a Self Assessment tax return?
Clients often aren’t sure if Self Assessment applies to them. Usually, anyone with income not taxed through PAYE needs to file. This includes:
- Self-employed people earning more than £1,000
- Business partners
- Landlords receiving rent
- People with dividends or savings over £10,000
- Individuals with foreign income
- People with certain pensions or charges
- Families with someone earning over £60,000 and in receipt of child benefit
How to answer: “You need to file if HMRC does not take tax automatically from your income. If unsure, HMRC has an online tool to check.”
Tip: Accounting outsourcing agents can make a quick checklist so that accountants know what clients should file and they can save time and make fewer errors.
2. How do I register for Self Assessment?
New clients may not know how to register. To register, they need to:
- Create or log in to an HMRC online account
- Give personal details, including National Insurance number
- Say why they are registering (self-employment, rental income, etc.)
They will get a 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and an activation code from HMRC mostly within 10 working days.
How to answer: “You can register for Self Assessment on the HMRC website. Once registered, HMRC will send you a UTR number and an activation code so you can set up your account and file your return.”
Tip: Remind clients to register by 5th October after the tax year ends to avoid penalties. Stellaripe can help manage registrations for your clients.
3. Do company directors need to file a Self Assessment?
Yes. Directors who receive income outside PAYE, such as dividends or expense reimbursements, must file a Self Assessment.
How to answer: “If you are a director and get money not taxed through PAYE, you must register and file a return.”
Tip: It is better to provide good examples so that the clients know what they have to do and ask fewer questions in future.
4. What taxes are included in Self Assessment?
Clients may not know that Self Assessment covers more than just income tax. It may also include:
- Income Tax
- National Insurance (Class 2 and Class 4)
- Capital Gains Tax
- Tax on dividends
- Student Loan repayments
How to answer: “Self Assessment is how you declare all your taxable income in one place, so HMRC knows what you owe.”
Tip: Outsourced accounting firms can prepare summaries of different taxes for your clients to make explanations easier.
5. How do I file a Self Assessment tax return?
Clients can file online or on paper. The deadline for paper returns is 31st October and online returns is 31st January. Online filing is faster and automatically checks calculations.
How to answer: “You can file online or by paper. Online filing is usually easier and faster, and HMRC confirms when it’s submitted.”
Tip: Outsourcing providers can help the accountants to prepare the returns that could be sent online in order to save time and be accurate.
6. Do I need an accountant to file my return?
Some clients wonder if they can do it themselves. While self-filing is possible, accountants can:
- Make sure returns are accurate
- Find all expenses and tax reliefs
- Give advice on payments and tax planning
- Handle complex cases like foreign income or capital gains
How to answer: “An accountant can save you time and reduce mistakes, especially if your financial situation is complex.”
Tip: Expert accounting outsourcing agencies can handle preparation and calculations for accountants, letting them focus on advising clients.
7. Where can I find my Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)?
A UTR is a 10-digit number from HMRC. Clients can find it on:
- Previous tax returns
- HMRC letters
- Their online HMRC account
How to answer: “You can find your UTR on any letter or email from HMRC about Self Assessment, or by logging into your HMRC online account. If you’ve lost it, you can request it again through HMRC’s website.”
Tip: Accounting outsourcing agencies can track UTRs for multiple clients so accountants always have the correct numbers.
8. Can I change my Self Assessment return once submitted?
Yes. Online returns can be changed within 12 months of filing.
How to answer: “You can fix mistakes or add missing information. Try to review your return carefully before submitting to avoid corrections later.”
Tip: Outsourcing experts for accountants can review returns before submission to make sure everything is correct.
9. What happens if I miss the deadline?
If you miss your Self Assessment deadline, HMRC can charge penalties and interest. The main consequences are:
- £100 fixed penalty immediately after the deadline
- £10 per day if still late after three months, up to £900
- Interest on any unpaid tax from the original due date
Even small delays can become expensive. Filing and paying on time avoids these charges and keeps your tax record in good standing.
How to answer: “Even if you can’t pay now, it’s better to file your return on time. HMRC may let you set up a payment plan (called Time to Pay) to spread the cost over several months. Filing late, however, leads to extra penalties and interest.”
Tip: Accounting outsourcing providers prepare returns early and help accountants remind clients of deadlines or discuss payment options in advance.
10. How can an accountant help with Self Assessment?
Clients want to know why an accountant is useful. Accountants can:
- Make sure returns are correct
- Identify all deductions and reliefs
- Advise on payments on account
- Handle HMRC queries or penalties
- Save time and reduce stress
How to answer: “An accountant makes sure your return is accurate and helps avoid mistakes, giving you peace of mind.”
Tip: Trusted accounting outsourcing advisors can take care of calculations, documents, and client communications, letting accountants focus on advising clients.
Conclusion
Self Assessment does not necessarily have to be stressful. Being aware of the frequently asked questions and providing straightforward and simple answers, accountants can assist clients in submitting their files properly, taking all the deductions, and not facing any fines.
With Stellaripe’s outsourced support, accountants can manage preparation, documents, and client questions efficiently. This helps to save your time to provide expert advice and establish good rapport with the clients as we do the administrative work in the background.
