HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (Ref:NAT 16/08) issued by The Government News
Network on 9 April 2008
Millions of new
look tax returns will be dropping onto doormats from this week,
following a revamp of the main self assessment (SA) tax return.
The new look return now has fewer questions, simpler language and
an improved layout. It's designed to be easier to understand
and complete for all SA customers but, in particular, for those
who are self-employed or who don't use an accountant to
complete their return.
Other changes to the paper return include:
* A new page for additional information - questions completed by
relatively few people about less common types of income and
reliefs have been moved to a new, separate 'Additional
Information' page, which is included in the return pack.
* A new short, self-employment page - a two-page form with fewer
boxes to complete is being introduced for smaller, straightforward
businesses with an annual turnover below £64,000.
* An increased 'three line account' threshold - the
limit for completing simpler, abbreviated accounts information has
been doubled to £30,000.
* Reordered questions - a person's main source of income is
now at the front of the return, rather than the end, ensuring
customers answer questions most relevant to them first.
A redesigned version of the online SA return is also now available.
All the changes have been made following a successful two-year
pilot, which involved more than 7,000 SA customers.
From this year, there are also changes to the SA deadlines -
paper returns must now be filed by 31 October, while the deadline
for online returns remains at 31 January.
Notes for editors
1. The main tax return for individuals has essentially remained
in the same format since it was introduced in April 1997. A
shorter, simpler four-page short tax return was introduced in
April 2005 for people within self assessment who have more
straightforward tax affairs, including: employees, the
self-employed with turnovers below £15,000, and pensioners (see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/shorttaxreturn.htm
for more details). The turnover threshold for the self-employed
has been increased to £30,000 from 2007-08.
2. The new main tax return will be issued to all individual
customers within Self Assessment who have not previously filed
online (online filers receive a notice to file rather than a paper
return), or who don't qualify for a short tax return.
3. If you need any help with your return, you should visit the
self assessment pages on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa or
call the self assessment helpline on 0845 9000 444, which is open
seven days a week between 8.00am and 8.00pm.
4. Electronic copies of the new main tax return and supplementary
pages are available on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/forms/net-07-08.htm
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk