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Self-Assessment: Key dates for tutors
We have prepared further tax guides specifically for tutors and the self-employed.
Other tax guides for Tutors
What dates are important for a self-employed tutor?
This guide aims to provide a summary of key dates that are important to you as a self-employed tutor. As part of our fee, we will of course be here to help guide you through the various deadlines and send friendly reminders whenever we need you to do something so this guide serves as a useful reference point.
As a self-employed person, you will fall within the self assessment system. You may also be in receipt of employment income, which will be taxed through the PAYE system but the income you receive through your private tutoring will be classed as self-employment income.
What is self assessment?
Self assessment describes the way you advise HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) of your income, gains and relevant expenses for a tax year. You do this by completing a tax return, sending it to HMRC and calculating your own tax liability. You can find out more about self-assessment in our useful Tutors guide to Self-Assessment.
Important dates for the self-employed tutor
When we talk about dates for tax, often the date is said to be ‘during the tax year’ or ‘following the end of the tax year’. A UK tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April.
So if we are talking about the tax year 2014/2015 it would start on 6 April 2014 and finish on 5 April 2015. The 31 January during the tax year would be 31 January 2015, the 05 October following the end of the tax year would be 5 October 2015 and the 31 January following the end of the tax year would be 31 January 2016.
Don't forget, this is just a guide. We will be here to help guide you through all of this and for a small annual fee, you can let us worry about the deadlines!
Not all of the dates listed below may apply to you but are included for the sake of completeness.
The Self Assessment Tax Year: Key Dates
31st January
(during the tax year)
The first payment on account for the tax year ending the following 5 April is due.
For example, the first payment on account for the 2014/15 tax year is due by 31 January 2015.
As part of the annual fee, we will advise you how and when to pay HMRC and explain what is meant by 'payments on account'. Not everyone has to pay these payments on account.
April
(following the
end of the tax year)
The tax year ends on 5 April and shortly after this date anyone who is required to file a tax return will either receive a paper version of the tax return, or if you have previously filed online, you'll receive a notice requiring you to file your tax return for the tax year just ended.
If you are newly self-employed, you will need to register with HMRC for tax and National Insurance (NIC) for this to happen. As part of the fee, we deal with the entire registration process for you.
31st July
(following the
end of the tax year)
The second payment on account for the tax year ending the previous 5 April is due.
For example, the second payment on account for the 2014/15 tax year is due by 31 July 2015.
As part of the annual fee, we will advise you how and when to pay HMRC and explain what is meant by 'payments on account'. Not everyone has to pay these payments on account.
5th October
(following the
end of the tax year)
The 5 October is the date by which you need to notify HMRC that you have income that has not been taxed before you received it, i.e. your tutor income. This is so that HMRC can send you a tax return.
If you are self-employed, you need to register with HMRC for tax purposes by this date.
As part of the fee, we deal with the entire registration process for you.
31st October
(following the
end of the tax year)
If you are sending HMRC a paper tax return this must be submitted by the 31 October. If you send the paper form after this date there will be a penalty even if you have no tax to pay.
We submit all our tax returns online using a secure and UK leading tax software. This means that we can work towards a later filing deadline of 31st January following the end of a tax year (see the 31st January, below).
30th December
(following the
end of the tax year)
If you file your tax return online, you will need to submit it by this date if you want HMRC to collect the tax through your tax code. This may be possible where you owe less than £3,000.
As a private tutor, you may receive income from a permanent employment elsewhere. In which case, it will be possible to have any tax payable in respect of your self-employment tutor income, to be collected through PAYE, i.e. as a deduction from your employment income.
31st January
(following the
end of the tax year)
31st January
(following the
end of the tax year)
+ 1 year
All tax returns filed online must be submitted on this date. If you miss this deadline a penalty will be charged even if you have no tax to pay or have already paid all of the tax you owe.
This is the last date by which you may register for payment of Class 2 NIC for the previous tax year.
Also your balancing payment of tax is due at this time. For example your tax liability for 2014/15 is due on 31 January 2016. You may also have a payment on account to make at this time. For example you may have a payment on account to pay for the 2015/16 tax year on 31 January 2016. As part of the annual fee, we will advise you how and when to pay HMRC and explain what is meant by 'payments on account'. Not everyone has to pay these payments on account.
If you become aware that an entry on your paper or online tax return is incorrect you can amend that return up to 12 months after 31 January following the end of the tax year.
For example, if you need to amend your 2013/14 return you have until 31 January 2016 to make the amendment. This applies whether you filed manually using a paper return or completed it online.
We have prepared the following tax guides specifically for Tutors and the self-employed. Click on the links to read more:
Tax Guides for Tutors (subscribers only)
Need help with anything else?
There's more to us than just tax returns. Visit our website for details on our tax services:
