Personal tax reporting • Exeter and surrounding Devon
Self Assessment Tax Returns for Complex Personal and Business Income
Self Assessment tax returns should record the complete tax position, not merely repeat figures from payslips or bank statements. We prepare returns for individuals, landlords, sole traders, company directors, healthcare professionals, academics and internationally connected clients across Exeter and the surrounding Devon districts.
Direct answer
What Self Assessment Tax Returns Need to Include
A Self Assessment return must include the income, gains, relief claims, tax deductions and other reportable amounts relevant to that taxpayer for the tax year. The correct schedules depend on the underlying facts—not on the label the taxpayer gives the income.
A complete review may therefore involve employment records, business accounts, property schedules, foreign-income documents, disposal calculations, pension contributions, Gift Aid claims, student-loan information, child-benefit charges and tax already deducted.
Figures that belong on the annual return
Income, gains, reliefs, claims, payments on account and tax deducted are reconciled for the correct tax year before the return is approved.
Deadlines outside the annual return
UK property Capital Gains Tax, MTD quarterly updates and some disclosure routes can require action before the normal 31 January filing deadline.
Questions the return cannot decide by itself
Residence, beneficial ownership, source, relief entitlement and earlier-year treatment must be established before the figures are entered.
Who the service is designed for
Self Assessment Returns That Require More Than Basic Data Entry
Exeter has a large professional, healthcare, university and technology workforce, while the surrounding districts contain substantial property, trade, manufacturing, tourism and family-business activity. The return types below reflect the tax issues that arise across that wider market.
Employment, Pension, Dividend and Interest Income
The return may need to reconcile several PAYE records, benefits, pensions, investment income, professional subscriptions, Gift Aid and tax-code adjustments.
Self-Employment and Consultancy Income
Business income, allowable expenditure, capital allowances, basis periods, losses, student loans, National Insurance and payments on account must be reviewed together.
Rental Income and Property Expenses
Property income requires an ownership-based schedule covering rents, agents' fees, repairs, finance costs, replacement items, losses and any jointly owned property.
Professional and Multiple-Income Returns
PAYE roles, private income, locum work, partnerships, teaching, expenses, pensions and investment income can create a connected personal tax position.
Self Assessment Tax Returns with Foreign Income
Overseas appointments, research or consultancy income, foreign property, investments and pensions may require residence, treaty and foreign-tax-credit analysis.
Salary, Dividends, Benefits and Director Loans
The personal return should agree with company payroll, dividend records, benefits, director-loan transactions and the company's accounts.
Returns Including Capital Gains Tax
The gain calculation must establish proceeds, base cost, incidental costs, enhancement expenditure, losses, reliefs and any separate property-reporting obligation.
Late Returns, Amendments and Historic Corrections
The correct route depends on the year, whether a return was filed, whether tax was underpaid or overpaid, and whether HMRC has already prompted contact.
Technical review before filing
What We Check Before a Self Assessment Return Is Submitted
The return is the final reporting document. The supporting calculations, classifications and reconciliations are what determine whether the return is technically reliable.
Completeness of income
PAYE records, pensions, business income, property, investments, foreign income and gains are checked for omissions.
Correct tax classification
Amounts are distinguished between employment, trading, property, savings, dividends, foreign income and capital gains.
Expenses and reliefs
Claims are reviewed against the relevant conditions rather than entered only because an amount was paid.
Ownership and allocation
Joint property, partnership, company and investment figures are allocated to the person who is taxable on them.
Tax already deducted
PAYE, CIS, foreign tax, pension deductions and other credits are reconciled to supporting evidence.
Payments and future liabilities
The balancing payment, payments on account and relevant payment deadlines are explained before filing.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Self Assessment Is Now a Digital-Year Process for Qualifying Landlords and Sole Traders
From 6 April 2026, qualifying landlords and sole traders with gross self-employment and property income above £50,000 entered MTD for Income Tax. The threshold extends to more than £30,000 from April 2027 and more than £20,000 from April 2028.
Income and expenses recorded in compatible software
Business and property records must be created, retained and corrected through an MTD-compatible digital system.
Periodic information sent during the tax year
Quarterly updates report totals from the digital records; they do not replace the final annual review.
Final adjustments and other income still matter
The annual submission must include final business adjustments and the taxpayer's other income, gains and claims.
Gross self-employment and property income
Employment and pension income do not form part of the MTD qualifying-income threshold.
Agreed Exeter guide fees
Self Assessment Tax Return Fees
These are the previously agreed Exeter guide prices. They apply where the scope is defined, records are complete and no separate residence opinion, disclosure, HMRC enquiry or substantial record reconstruction is required.
Basic Self Assessment tax return
Complete records and a limited number of straightforward personal income sources.
Employment with interest or dividend income
PAYE income plus defined savings, investment or dividend reporting.
Self-employed tax return
One sole-trade activity with complete and orderly business records.
One-property landlord tax return
One UK rental property with clear ownership and complete income and expense records.
Professional or multiple-income tax return
Several employments, professional income, private work or connected personal income sources.
Foreign-income tax return
Foreign income reporting where the residence and underlying tax treatment are established.
Self Assessment return including Capital Gains Tax
A defined asset disposal with complete acquisition, disposal and allowable-cost records.
Residence advice, historic disclosure or HMRC enquiry
Separate technical work is scoped after the relevant facts, years and correspondence are reviewed.
Records required after engagement
A Return-Specific Information Checklist
We request only the records relevant to the agreed return. The first enquiry does not require documents; the tailored checklist is issued after the scope and onboarding have been completed.
Employment and pensions
- P60, P45 and payslips where required
- P11D or payrolled-benefit information
- Pension statements and tax deducted
- Professional subscriptions and expense claims
Self-employment
- Sales or fee income
- Business expense records
- Equipment and asset purchases
- CIS deductions where applicable
Rental property
- Rental statements and tenancy records
- Agent, repair and running costs
- Mortgage-interest statements
- Ownership and loss information
Investments and gains
- Interest and dividend statements
- Purchase and sale contracts
- Allowable acquisition and disposal costs
- Earlier capital losses
Foreign income
- Foreign pay, pension and bank records
- Overseas property accounts
- Foreign tax assessments or certificates
- Travel and residence information where needed
Reliefs and adjustments
- Pension contributions
- Gift Aid donations
- Student or postgraduate loan details
- Child-benefit and other tax-charge information
Preparation and filing process
From Initial Scope to HMRC Submission
The process separates the initial enquiry, information collection, technical preparation and final approval so that the return is not filed before the client understands the calculation.
Return type and fee agreed
We identify the tax year, income sources, specialist pages, deadlines and work included.
Tailored checklist issued
The records requested are based on the actual return rather than a generic document list.
Calculations and return prepared
Income, gains, reliefs, tax deducted and payments on account are reviewed and reconciled.
You approve before filing
The completed return and tax calculation are provided for approval before HMRC submission.
Exeter and surrounding Devon
Self Assessment Support Reflecting the Regional Client Base
The service is available across the wider Exeter catchment. The tax-return issues vary because the city and surrounding districts have different professional, property and business profiles.
Professionals, healthcare, university and technology
Multiple PAYE roles, private income, consultancy, pensions, international work, investments and company ownership.
Property, tourism and private clients
Rental income, coastal accommodation, self-employment, capital gains, pensions and property-owning families.
Trades, manufacturing and rural enterprise
Sole trades, partnerships, CIS income, family businesses, property and several connected income sources.
Landlords, hospitality and owner-managed businesses
Rental portfolios, tourism income, construction, company-director returns and retirement-related income.
Common technical questions
Self Assessment Tax Return FAQs
Who must submit a Self Assessment tax return?
A return is normally required where HMRC has issued a filing notice or where the individual has reportable income, gains or charges that are not dealt with fully through PAYE. Common examples include self-employment income above the trading allowance, partnership income, rental income, foreign income, taxable capital gains and the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The complete facts should be checked rather than relying on one income threshold in isolation.
Can an employee taxed through PAYE still need a tax return?
Yes. PAYE may not collect the correct tax where an employee also has rental income, self-employment, dividends, investment income, foreign income, capital gains, professional fees or several employments. A return may also be required because HMRC has issued a formal notice to file.
What are the Self Assessment deadlines for the 2025/26 tax year?
A new taxpayer generally needs to notify HMRC by 5 October 2026. The paper-return deadline is 31 October 2026 and the normal online filing and payment deadline is 31 January 2027. A return must usually be filed by 30 December 2026 if the taxpayer wants an eligible liability collected through a PAYE tax code.
Does Self Assessment include foreign income and overseas tax?
Yes, where the individual is required to report the foreign income or gain in the UK. The return may need foreign pages, currency conversion, source analysis, treaty consideration and a Foreign Tax Credit Relief calculation. Overseas tax deducted is not automatically creditable in full.
Can Capital Gains Tax be reported only on the annual tax return?
Not always. A UK residential-property disposal with tax due can require a separate report and payment within 60 days of completion. The disposal may also need to be included on the annual Self Assessment return. Non-residents have wider UK-property reporting obligations.
Can a filed tax return be corrected?
Yes. A Self Assessment return can normally be amended within 12 months of the filing deadline. Earlier years may require a written claim, overpayment-relief request or formal disclosure, depending on whether tax was overpaid or underpaid and how old the year is.
How does Making Tax Digital change Self Assessment for landlords and sole traders?
Qualifying landlords and sole traders must keep digital records, use compatible software, submit quarterly updates and complete the annual tax return through that software. The first mandatory group entered MTD from 6 April 2026 where qualifying gross self-employment and property income exceeded £50,000.
What records are needed to prepare a Self Assessment return?
The records depend on the income sources. They can include P60 and P45 forms, pension statements, dividend and interest certificates, business income and expenses, rental schedules, mortgage-interest statements, foreign income records, disposal documents, pension contributions, gift-aid payments and tax already paid.
Will the return be filed without my approval?
No. You should receive the completed return and tax calculation for review before submission. Filing takes place only after approval and completion of the engagement, identity and authority requirements.
How much does a Self Assessment tax return cost?
The agreed guide fee starts at £250 plus VAT for a basic return. Employment with interest or dividends starts at £300, self-employment or one-property landlord returns at £350, professional or multiple-income returns at £400, foreign-income returns at £450 and returns including Capital Gains Tax at £600 plus VAT. The scope may change where records are incomplete, residence advice is required or earlier years need correction.
Discuss the tax year before records are sent
Start with the Income Sources and the Deadline
A short summary is enough for the initial review. We will confirm the return type, the information required and the agreed fee before substantive preparation begins.