Personal Tax & Self-Assessment Returns in Hertfordshire
Self-assessment is more than a form — it's a legal obligation with real financial consequences if you miss a deadline or under-report your income. For directors, freelancers, landlords, sole traders, and high earners, the self-assessment process can be complex, time-consuming, and laden with opportunities to either overpay or inadvertently underpay tax.
At CoreAcc, our personal tax team handles your self-assessment from start to finish. We don't just file what you send us — we take the time to understand your full financial picture and make sure you're paying exactly the right amount of tax, not a penny more and never less than HMRC requires.
Who Needs to File a Self-Assessment Tax Return?
You are required to file a self-assessment return if, in the last tax year, you:
- ✓Were self-employed as a sole trader with income over £1,000
- ✓Were a director of a limited company
- ✓Had untaxed income over £2,500 (e.g., rental income, savings interest, or dividends)
- ✓Earned over £100,000 in employment income
- ✓Received income from abroad
- ✓Were a partner in a business partnership
- ✓Received Child Benefit and either you or your partner earned over £60,000 (High Income Child Benefit Charge)
- ✓Realised capital gains from the sale of assets (property, shares, cryptocurrency, business assets)
If you're not sure whether you need to file, we offer a free initial assessment to review your situation and advise you clearly.
What's Included in Our Self-Assessment Service
- ✓Full preparation and filing of your SA100 self-assessment return and all relevant supplementary pages
- ✓Review of all income sources: employment, self-employment, dividends, rental, savings, and foreign income
- ✓Capital Gains Tax calculations on the disposal of assets, including residential property (with 60-day CGT reporting where applicable)
- ✓Identification of all allowable expenses, reliefs, and deductions to minimise your tax liability legitimately
- ✓Director's personal tax advice, including optimal salary/dividend split and pension contributions
- ✓High Income Child Benefit Charge calculations
- ✓Payment on account planning — so you're never caught short by HMRC's advance payment system
- ✓Advance notification of your tax liability well before the 31 January deadline
- ✓HMRC correspondence management if your return is selected for enquiry
Landlord Tax Returns
If you receive rental income from one or more properties, you must declare it on a self-assessment return. Our team has extensive experience preparing landlord tax returns, including:
- ✓Rental income from residential and commercial properties
- ✓Deductible expenses (repairs and maintenance, letting agent fees, mortgage interest — subject to Section 24 restrictions)
- ✓Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) — a special regime with its own rules that is being abolished from April 2025
- ✓Rent-a-Room relief for homeowners letting part of their property
- ✓Capital Gains Tax on the sale of rental properties, including Private Residence Relief
- ✓Non-Resident Landlord Scheme returns
Why Choose CoreAcc for Your Personal Tax
We believe that personal tax shouldn't be left to the last minute. Our approach is proactive — we contact every client well before the 31 January deadline, gather the information we need efficiently, and give you a clear picture of what you'll owe and when. No nasty surprises.
For directors and higher earners, we combine your personal tax return with year-round advisory conversations about your overall tax position — salary and dividend structure, pension planning, and capital gains timing. We look at your whole financial picture, not just the tax return in isolation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the self-assessment deadline?
The deadline for filing your online self-assessment return is 31 January following the end of the tax year. For the 2024/25 tax year (which ended 5 April 2025), your return must be filed by 31 January 2026. Paper returns have an earlier deadline of 31 October. Any tax owed is also due by 31 January. Late filing attracts an automatic £100 penalty, with further daily and percentage penalties for extended delays.
What happens if I've missed previous years' returns?
If you have unfiled returns, it's important to address these as quickly as possible. HMRC charges interest and penalties for late returns, and the longer they remain unfiled, the higher the costs. We can help you prepare and submit outstanding returns and, in many cases, negotiate a Time To Pay arrangement with HMRC to manage any liabilities affordably.
Can you help with HMRC investigations and enquiries?
Yes. If HMRC opens an enquiry into your self-assessment return, we act as your representative throughout the process. We prepare all correspondence, respond to HMRC's queries on your behalf, and work to resolve the enquiry as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Tax investigation insurance is also available — ask us for details.
How much does a self-assessment return cost?
Our pricing depends on the complexity of your return — a straightforward employed income return with some rental income is priced differently to a return covering multiple income streams, capital gains, and foreign income. We always provide a fixed-fee quote before starting work, so you know the cost upfront. Contact us for a no-obligation quote.
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