How to prepare for your Self Assessment tax return

Gather your figures

Pull together your income, expenses, bank statements, P60/P45 if employed, dividend vouchers, and details of any other income (property, savings, side income).

Reconcile your bookkeeping

Make sure every transaction is categorised and your books match your bank. Good software with bank feeds makes this almost automatic.

File early, pay on time

Filing early doesn’t mean paying early — it just means you know what you owe by Christmas instead of panicking in January. Set the money aside in a separate tax pot.