11/30/2018 Print Register for and file your Self Assessment tax return - GOV.

UK

GOV.UK
1. Home (https://www.gov.uk/)
2. Money and tax (https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax)
3. Self Assessment (https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax/self-assessment)

Register for and file your Self Assessment tax return

1. File your tax return online
You can use the online service to:

fill in and send your tax return to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
go back to a tax return you’ve already started
check your details, view returns and print your tax calculation

You’ll need to register for Self Assessment again if you’ve sent a tax return in the past but you did not have to
send one last year.

This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) (https://www.gov.uk/mewngofnodi-chyflwynoch-ffurflen-dreth-

huanasesiad).

If you’re filing online for the first time

You must have received your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), enrolled for the online service and activated your
account using the code you received in the post.

How you do those things depends on whether you’re:

self-employed (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed)
not self-employed (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-not-self-employed)
a business partner or partnership (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-a-
partner-or-partnership)

Sign in to file your tax return

You’ll need to prove your identity using Government Gateway or GOV.UK Verify.

Sign in (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/sign-in/prove-identity)

If you have not told HMRC you need to send a return

There are different ways to register for Self Assessment if you’re:

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/print 1/4
11/30/2018 Print Register for and file your Self Assessment tax return - GOV.UK

self-employed or a sole trader (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-

employed)
not self-employed (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-not-self-employed)
registering a partner or partnership (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-a-
partner-or-partnership)

You should allow enough time to complete the registration process so you can send your return by the
deadline (https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/deadlines).

When you cannot use the service

You need to use other software (https://www.gov.uk/software-tax-returns) or download other forms
(https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-forms-and-helpsheets) to send a Self Assessment tax return:

for a partnership
for a trust (https://www.gov.uk/trusts-taxes/trustees-tax-responsibilities/) or estate (https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-
tax-returns/returns-for-someone-who-has-died)
if you lived abroad as a non-resident (https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad)
to report multiple ‘chargeable gains (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gains-on-uk-life-insurance-policies-
hs320-self-assessment-helpsheet)’, for example from life insurance
if you get income from a trust, you’re a Lloyd’s underwriter or a religious minister

2. Register if you're self-employed

If you have to send a tax return (https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/who-must-send-a-tax-return) and did not
send one last year, you need to register for Self Assessment and Class 2 National Insurance.

Register by 5 October in your business’s second tax year. You could be fined if you do not.

If you’ve sent a return before

Register online (form CWF1) (https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/CWF1ST?dept-name=CWF1&sub-dep).

You’ll need to find your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) (https://www.gov.uk/find-lost-utr-number) from
when you registered for Self Assessment previously.

If you’ve signed up for the online service before, you should use the same account to file your tax return.

If you have not sent a return before

Register online (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/government-gateway-registration-frontend?
accountType=organisation&continue=/business-registration/introduction&origin=SA-frontend) and you’ll:

get a letter with your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)

be enrolled for the Self Assessment online service at the same time

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/print 2/4
11/30/2018 Print Register for and file your Self Assessment tax return - GOV.UK

You’ll also get a letter within 10 working days (21 days if you’re abroad) with an activation code. You’ll need this
when you first log in to your online account. You can replace an activation code (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-
hmrc-online-services/problems-signing-in) if you do not receive it or you lose it.

Other ways to register

You can fill this form on-screen (https://public-online.hmrc.gov.uk/lc/content/xfaforms/profiles/forms.html?
contentRoot=repository:///Applications/NICs_iForms/1.0/CWF1_20167&template=CWF1.xdp) then print off and post to
HMRC. You’ll need to have all your information ready as you cannot save a partly completed form.

If you’re using an older browser, for example Internet Explorer 8, you’ll need to update it or use a different browser.
Find out more about browsers (https://www.gov.uk/help/browsers).

3. Register if you're not self-employed

If you have to send a tax return (https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/who-must-send-a-tax-return) and did not
send one last year, you need to register for Self Assessment by 5 October.

Register now (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-register-for-self-assessment-and-get-a-tax-

return-sa1)

If you’ve sent a return before

You’ll need the 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) from when you registered previously. You can find your
UTR (https://www.gov.uk/find-lost-utr-number) if you’ve lost it.

After you register, sign in (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/gg/sign-in?continue=/account/&origin=SA-frontend) to the online

account you set up previously and file your tax return.

If you have not sent a return before

After you register, you’ll get a letter within 10 working days (21 if you’re abroad) which will contain your Unique
Taxpayer Reference (UTR).

You’ll need to:

create a new account (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/government-gateway-registration-frontend/are-you-trying-to-file-

for-sa?continue=/personal-account/do-uplift/&origin=SA-frontend)
use your UTR to enrol for Self Assessment online services

You’ll get an activation code in the post within 10 working days of enrolling (21 if you’re abroad). When you have
your code, sign in (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/gg/sign-in?continue=/account/&origin=SA-frontend) to your online
account to file your return online.

You can replace an activation code (https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services/problems-signing-in) if you do

not receive it or you lose it.

4. Register if you're a partner or partnership

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/print 3/4
11/30/2018 Print Register for and file your Self Assessment tax return - GOV.UK

You must register for Self Assessment (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-register-a-partner-for-

self-assessment-and-class-2-nics-sa401) if you’re a partner in a partnership.

You’ll need your partnership’s 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). You can find a UTR
(https://www.gov.uk/find-lost-utr-number) if you’ve lost it.

You must also register your partnership (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-register-a-

partnership-for-self-assessment-sa400) if you’re the ‘nominated partner’.

There are different ways to register:

for limited liability partnerships (https://www.gov.uk/set-up-and-run-limited-liability-partnership)

if you’re a partner that’s not an individual, for example a company (https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation)
or trust (https://www.gov.uk/trusts-taxes)

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/print 4/4