In this section:
- Understanding and using Self Assessment Online
- Software you can use for your tax return
- List of commercial tax return software
- Self Assessment Online login page
- Help with using Self Assessment Online
Software you can use for your tax return
When you file online your figures are calculated automatically and you'll know right away what you owe or what is owed to you. You can use our free Self Assessment Online software or third party supplier software (some are also free). Some supplementary pages aren't supported by our service, but are provided by third party software.
On this page:
- What's covered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) free, online service
- What's covered by third party software
- Completing your online tax return in parts
- Before you can send us your tax return online
- Tax returns you can't file online
- HMRC online support
What's covered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) free, online service
You can send us the main Self Assessment Tax Return (SA100) online free of charge using our online service. You can also file the following supplementary pages online now:
- employment
- self-employment
- individual partnership - to report your share of a partnership's profit or loss
- land and property
and from July 2008:
- capital gains
- foreign income
As well as sending your tax return online you can view and/or amend your contact details online and use a secure email channel to ask us a question (see 'HMRC online support' below). You can also see your latest Statement of Account and account history online to find out:
- what you owe, what you've paid and any repayments due
- when your tax return was received
- when your next tax return is due
Bear in mind that our software only offers the supplementary pages listed above. If you want to send other pages online you'll need to use third party software (see 'What's covered by third party software' below).
HMRC's Self Assessment online filing service - find out more about the benefits and how to register
What's covered by third party software
You can file the following tax returns online using software from third party suppliers (some of this software is free and some you have to pay for):
- SA100 - Individual Tax Return (also completed if you're self-employed)
- SA800 - The Partnership Tax Return
- SA900 - The Trust and Estate Tax Return
The third party software products also allow you to file some or all of the following supplementary pages online:
- employment
- self-employment
- individual partnership
- land and property
- share schemes
- foreign income
- trust income
- capital gains
- non-residence
- Minister of religion
- Lloyd's underwriters
Follow the link below for a list of third party software that we have tested and that is compatible with our Self Assessment online filing service. We don't recommend any one particular product or service over another, so you'll have to choose for yourself. When you compare suppliers, you could look at things such as their extra features, ease of use and quality of support.
List of third party software compatible with Self Assessment online
Completing your online tax return in parts
You don't have to fill in your online tax return all in one go. You can fill in part of it then save it and come back later. You can also print it out if you want to.
If you use HMRC software, your work is saved securely on our system. Only you will be able to get at it, no one else (inside or outside HMRC) can look at your return until you've submitted it.
If you use third party software, you may be able to save your work on your own computer. If this feature's important to you, check that it's available before you choose your software.
Before you can send us your tax return online
Whichever software you choose, before you can send us your tax return online, you'll need to register and enrol to use the online service - allow at least seven days to do this. You'll need to have your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) to hand (find this on your tax return or Statement of Account) plus either your National Insurance number or your postcode.
For full details please see our article 'Self Assessment Online'. If you wish to register and enrol now you can use the link below.
Self Assessment Online - find out more about the benefits and how to register
Self Assessment online - register and enrol now
Tax returns you can't file online
There is currently no software available for filing the following returns:
- SA700 - Non-resident Company Tax Return
- SA970 - Trustees of Registered Pension Schemes
You have to send us these as paper returns. Because there is no online service available, the deadline for these paper returns is the same as for online returns - 31 January.
Self assessment deadlines - find out more
Self Assessment for trustees of registered pensions schemes
HMRC online support
The Online Services Helpdesk supports HMRC's software (but not software from other suppliers). You can contact the helpdesk by phone on 0845 6055 999 or by minicom on 0845 366 7805. It is open seven days a week from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day). You can also contact the helpdesk by email at the address below:
