Summertime and the livin’ is easy. Well, if you’re lucky it is. If not exactly easy, then perhaps easier. Maybe it’s the warmer, dryer weather and the longer days that allow us to get more done.
Life can seem a lot more chilled and less stressful in the summer, making it a great time to get your Self Assessment tax return filled in and filed. You can do it as soon as the UK tax year ends on 5 April. So why do so many people leave it so late?
Self Assessment filing facts
- More than 11.5m UK taxpayers filed their Self Assessment tax returns before the midnight 31 January 2025 online-filing deadline.
- An estimated 1m missed the deadline and were rewarded with a £100 penalty (source: HMRC). The longer you leave it post deadline, the greater the penalties.
- Many taxpayers left it very late, with 732,498 tax returns filed on deadline day. Peak hour was 4pm-5pm, when 58,517 tax returns were filed online.
- Many left it until the very final hour, with 31,442 tax returns filed between 11pm and 11:59pm. Phew.
Leaving it late isn’t recommended. It makes life unnecessarily stressful. Many people complete their tax returns in December, but things can be hectic enough at the time of year, while completing your tax return is hardly the best way to get in the Christmas mood. Many others put it off until January, but that’s hardly the greatest way to start a new year. The solution, of course, is to file your Self Assessment tax return much earlier. Why delay?
Self Assessment early birds
Many more taxpayers than ever realise that they can make their lives much less stressful by filing their tax returns long before December or January.
- A record 299,419 2024/25 Self Assessment tax returns were filed in the first week of the new 2025/26 tax year – almost 10 months ahead of the deadline.
- Amazingly, 57,815 Self Assessment tax returns were filed on 6 April 2025 – which was a Sunday – with a further 64,505 tax returns filed on Monday 7 April 2025.
HMRC has long since encouraged sole traders, landlords and others to file their Self Assessment tax return early. It’s easy to understand the workflow benefits that that would bring to HMRC, but how might it help sole traders, landlords and others – why should they file as soon as possible?
Key benefits of summer filing
Besides making your December or January less stressful and getting a pretty dull task off your plate, there are many other good reasons for filing your Self Assessment tax return in summer.
Firstly, because you’re not short on time and battling a tight deadline, you’re probably less likely to make a silly basic mistake. This is also the case if you use Self Assessment tax return-filing software.
Secondly, filing earlier means you’ll get your tax bill sooner, so you’ll know exactly how much tax you owe for the previous tax year. However, this does not mean you’ll have to pay your tax bill any sooner, but it does better enable you to plan ahead and budget for when payment is due. If you’re likely to struggle to pay your tax bill, filing early gives you more time to contact HMRC to arrange to pay in instalments.
Need to know! Your tax bill payment deadlines are: 31 January for any tax you owe for the previous tax year (called a “balancing payment”) and your first payment on account (an advance payment towards your next tax bill); 31 July for your second payment on account.
Filing early also gives you more time to correct any tax return errors that you later realise you’ve made. For example, you may realise that you haven’t claimed for all of your allowable tax expenses.
Tax refunds for overpayment
And if you are due a tax refund because you’ve paid too much tax, the earlier you file your Self Assessment tax return, the sooner you’ll get your tax refund (AKA tax rebate). Getting your tax rebate can take longer post January, when HMRC staff face a deluge of tax returns that need processing. Government website GOV.UK features a tool that explains how to claim a tax refund.
From April 2026, many sole traders and landlords will need to comply with new Making Tax Digital (MTD) recording and tax reporting rules. It’s the biggest shake-up to the UK tax system in ages. It’s another good reason to file your Self Assessment tax return this summer, so you can clear the decks, make sure you have the necessary MTD software and get used to using it.
Having your Self Assessment support queries answered by HMRC staff can also prove much more challenging in January, when demand surges ahead of the fast-approaching online-filing deadline. Filing early can also provide proof of income, which is essential if you’re applying for a mortgage or loan, or need to claim some state benefits.
Filing your Self Assessment tax return early in the summer also brings another huge benefit. Once done, it means you can relax and spend more time doing the things you really love and enjoy life in the great outdoors. British summer weather permitting, of course.
Income, Expenses and tax submission all in one.
GoSimpleTax will provide you with tips that could save you money on allowances and expenses you might have missed.
The software submits directly to HMRC and is the solution for freelancers, the self-employed, sole traders and anyone with income outside of PAYE to file their self-assessment giving hints and tips on savings along the way.
Get started with GoSimpleTax today, it’s free to try. Plus you get a 30% discount via Greater Manchester Chamber – just click the link, sign-up for free and receive your discount code to your inbox!