Income Tax Returns

Filing an accurate return keeps you compliant; filing a well-planned one keeps your tax bill down. We act for the self-employed, landlords, directors, investors and people with complex or multi-source income — and with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now live, we make sure your record-keeping and quarterly obligations are handled too.

Who Needs to File a Tax Return?

You may need to file if you are self-employed with annual income over £1,000, receive rental income, have significant investment or savings income, realise capital gains, are a company director with untaxed income, have overseas income, earn over £100,000, need to claim certain reliefs, or have been asked to file by HMRC. Unsure? We'll assess your position quickly — registering late is an avoidable penalty.

Deadlines, Payments and Penalties

For 2025/26 returns: register for self assessment by 5 October 2026, file paper returns by 31 October 2026, and file online returns — with the balancing payment — by 31 January 2027. Payments on account fall due on 31 January and 31 July.

Miss the filing deadline and penalties start at £100 immediately, rising to £10 a day (up to £900) after three months, with further penalties of at least £300 or 5% of the tax due at six and twelve months. Late payment adds 5% surcharges at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months, plus interest. We diarise every deadline so none of this ever applies to you.

Allowances and Rates for 2026/27

The personal allowance is £12,570, with income taxed at 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above (England, Wales and NI; the allowance tapers away above £100,000). These thresholds are frozen until April 2031, so more of your income drifts into higher bands each year — making allowances, pension contributions and gift aid steadily more valuable.

Dividends: the allowance is £500, and rates rose in April 2026 to 10.75% (basic), 35.75% (higher) and 39.35% (additional). We plan around the marriage allowance, savings allowances, ISAs and the high income child benefit charge to keep effective rates down.

Comprehensive Information Gathering

We collect and check everything the return needs: employment income (P60, P11D, benefits in kind), self-employment income and expenses, rental income and costs, dividends, interest and other investment income, capital gains, pension contributions, charitable donations and gift aid, and any other income or deductions — with a clear checklist so nothing is missed.

Self-Employment and Making Tax Digital

We prepare your self-employment pages, calculate taxable profits and Class 4 National Insurance, plan payments on account and make sure every allowable expense is claimed.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is now live: since April 2026 it is mandatory for sole traders and landlords whose qualifying income exceeded £50,000, extending to over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028. In-scope taxpayers must keep digital records and file quarterly updates through compatible software — we set you up, run the quarterly cycle and file the year-end return.

Property, Investment and Capital Gains

Rental income reporting with full expense deductions and the restricted relief for mortgage interest; property losses carried forward; and CGT planning across disposals — including 60-day reporting on UK residential property sales. For investors, we plan around the £3,000 CGT annual exempt amount, dividend and savings allowances, and ISA capacity.

Why Choose Acumon

Expert preparation that claims every relief you're entitled to. Proactive year-round planning, not just a January scramble. Returns filed on time, every time — and all HMRC correspondence and enquiries handled for you.

What You Get With Acumon

• Returns prepared, checked and filed before the 31 January deadline
• Every relief and allowance claimed — pensions, gift aid, marriage allowance and more
• Making Tax Digital quarterly updates handled for sole traders and landlords
• Payments on account calculated and managed to protect cash flow
• 60-day CGT property returns coordinated with your self assessment
• All HMRC correspondence and enquiries handled for you

Why Acumon for Income Tax Returns?

• Acts for the self-employed, landlords, directors, investors and multi-source income clients
• Tax staff with prior HMRC experience handle enquiries and correspondence
• Xero Gold Partner — clients set up on MTD-compatible software

Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

Tell us what you need and we'll come back within one business day with a clear scope and a fixed price — no hourly-rate surprises. Call 020 8567 3451 or use the form and we'll be in touch.