Do I need to file a tax return?
A few quick questions, thirty seconds, no email address needed. You’ll find out whether HMRC expects a Self Assessment from you — and whether Making Tax Digital applies, which is the part catching people out this year.
You usually need to file if you earned more than £1,000 from self-employment or from renting property, before expenses, in the last tax year.
Other triggers include untaxed income, a capital gain, the High Income Child Benefit Charge or being in a partnership. The checker covers them.
A guide, not formal advice — your situation may have a wrinkle in it. Tell us and we'll confirm properly, free.
Three reasons people end up filing
Most people who need to file fall into one of these — and many had no idea until someone mentioned it.
You work for yourself
Any trade, freelance work, driving, delivery, tutoring, selling — if it brought in more than £1,000 before expenses, HMRC wants a return.
It is turnover, not profit. That catches people out.
You rent out property
One flat, a holiday let, a garage. Rental income over £1,000 a year puts you in Self Assessment — unless it’s a room in your own home and Rent a Room covers it.
Jointly owned? Your share is what counts.
Something else triggered it
Selling an asset at a gain, untaxed income, income from abroad, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, or HMRC simply sent you a notice to file.
A notice to file is binding even if you owe nothing.
When Making Tax Digital reaches you
Based on your gross self-employment and property income — added together, before any expenses.
Over £50k
From 6 April 2026
Judged on your 2024/25 figures. You are in it now.
Over £30k
From 6 April 2027
Judged on your 2025/26 figures — a tax year that has already ended.
Over £20k
From 6 April 2028
Judged on your 2026/27 figures — the tax year happening now.
Under £20k
No date yet
One annual return still applies, if you meet the £1,000 test. That is covered by the £25 a month.
Exempt: some groups are automatically outside Making Tax Digital, including ministers of religion and people claiming Married Couple's Allowance or Blind Person's Allowance. If that's you, a normal annual return still applies — see our clergy tax page.
In MTD or not: same £25 a month.
The dates, in one place
For the tax year that ended on 5 April. Join Filed Tax and you can forget every one of them.
Nothing you do today makes it worse.
A missed online deadline is an automatic £100, even if there’s no tax to pay. It grows from three months on. Which means the only expensive choice is waiting longer.
- We handle catch-up years
- We deal with HMRC so you don’t have to ring them
- Late and catch-up years at £150 each
That’s the hard part over.
From here you answer a few questions in plain English and we do the rest. One price covers whatever the checker told you — registration, the quarterly updates if they apply, and the return itself.
£25/month
One plan for everyone. Stay for as long as you need us, even if that’s just until your return is filed.
Sign up now →No setup fee · cancel anytime
Behind on past years? Late and catch-up returns are £150 each.
5.0 on Google · AML-registered · every return read by a person
Questions people ask at this point
Is the £1,000 before or after expenses?+
Before. It’s the money that came in, not what you kept. People underestimate themselves on this constantly.
I have a full-time job as well. Does that change it?+
No. PAYE covers the salary; the side income still needs declaring. Having a job is not an exemption.
I made a loss. Do I still file?+
Usually yes, and usually you want to — recording a loss can reduce tax in a later year.
Will filing put me on HMRC’s radar?+
You are already on it — banks, platforms and letting agents report to HMRC. Filing correctly is what keeps things quiet.
Want the longer read? Do I actually need to file a tax return? · If you’ve had a letter about a missed deadline, start here.