Use this guide from autumn onwards if you file a Self Assessment tax return and want to avoid a January shock. You need your HMRC online account login, your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), last year's tax calculation and a rough figure for this year's income and expenses.
Step by step
Find out what is due and when
Log in to your HMRC online account and look at your Self Assessment statement, which shows what is due and the dates. For most people, 31 January is the deadline both for filing the online return and paying any balance owed for the previous tax year, plus the first payment on account for the current year if one applies. A second payment on account is usually due on 31 July; write all three amounts and dates on one page.
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