Self Assessment · Doncaster
Self Assessment accountants in Doncaster.
We prepare and file your tax return properly, early, and for a fixed fee you agree before we start. If you're behind — one year or five — that's the conversation we have most often, and it's fine.
What you get
Your return prepared from whatever you've got, checked with you before anything goes to HMRC, and filed months before the deadline rather than on the night. You'll know the number you owe in plenty of time to do something about it.
One fixed fee, quoted the same working day, with no charge for ringing us. We're HMRC-registered agents, so we deal with them directly and you're not the one on hold.
Do you even need to file one?
Plenty of people file who don't have to, and plenty who should don't realise it. You'll generally need to submit a Self Assessment return if any of these apply:
- You were self-employed as a sole trader and turned over more than £1,000.
- You're a partner in a business partnership.
- You have rental income from property.
- You have untaxed income — tips, commission, dividends above the allowance, savings interest above yours, or income from abroad.
- You or your partner claimed Child Benefit and one of you earns over £50,000.
- You want to claim reliefs you can't get any other way — some pension relief, or work expenses.
If you're not sure, ring us. It's a two-minute question and we don't charge for answering it.
What being late is costing you
If you've already missed a deadline, this is roughly where you stand. Penalties for filing late and for paying late are separate — you can be charged both for the same year.
Penalties so far, roughly
£300
An estimate of the standard penalties, not a bill. It excludes interest, which runs on top, and assumes the daily penalties applied in full. HMRC can reduce penalties where there's a reasonable excuse — that's worth a conversation rather than an assumption.
The deadlines
For the 2025 to 2026 tax year, which ended on 5 April 2026:
| Date | What's due |
|---|---|
| 5 October 2026 | Tell HMRC you need to file, if you've never filed before |
| 31 October 2026 | Paper returns must be with HMRC |
| 30 December 2026 | File online if you want the tax collected through your tax code |
| 31 January 2027 | Online return filed and the tax paid |
| 31 July 2027 | Second payment on account, if you make them |
What it costs to be late
| How late | Filing penalty | Payment penalty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | £100, automatically | — |
| 30 days | £100 | 5% of the tax unpaid |
| 3 months | £10 a day, up to £900 on top | 5% |
| 6 months | A further 5% of the tax due, or £300 — whichever is more | Another 5% |
| 12 months | Another 5% or £300, whichever is more | Another 5% |
Interest runs on unpaid tax throughout, separately from all of the above. The £100 lands even if you owe nothing at all.
How it works with us
- A short call, free
Tell us what you do, roughly what you turn over and how far behind you are. We'll tell you what's needed and what it'll cost. No obligation and no pressure.
- You send what you've got
Bank statements, invoices, a spreadsheet, a folder of photos. We've never yet been sent something we couldn't work with, and we'll tell you exactly what's missing rather than leaving you guessing.
- We prepare it and show you
You see the return and the number before anything is submitted, with the bits that matter explained in English. If something looks wrong to you, it gets checked.
- We file it and tell you what to pay
Filed with HMRC, confirmation sent to you, and a clear note of what's due and when. Then we tell you what to put aside for next year so the same thing doesn't happen again.
If you're behind
This is a large part of what we do and nobody here is going to make you feel stupid about it. Late returns, several missed years, a brown envelope you stopped opening in 2023 — we deal with it every week.
The practical position is usually better than people fear. Penalties can sometimes be reduced where there's a reasonable excuse, HMRC will normally agree a payment plan if the bill can't be cleared at once, and the sooner a return goes in the sooner the daily penalties stop accruing. What makes it genuinely worse is waiting, because almost every part of the penalty regime is time-based.
Ring us with the years you've missed and a rough idea of the income. You'll get a straight answer about what it takes to get straight.
Switching from another accountant
More routine than people expect, and you stay out of the middle of it. We write to them for your records, they hand over, and we take it from there. Most switches are done inside a fortnight, and you don't have to have an awkward conversation to start the process.
What about Making Tax Digital?
If you're a sole trader or a landlord, the Self Assessment return as you know it is being replaced by quarterly updates and a final declaration. It started in April 2026 for people with qualifying income over £50,000 and reaches £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028.
We've been filing quarterly updates since it went live. If it applies to you we'll tell you when, and get you set up before it bites — there's a full explanation on our Making Tax Digital page, and a version for landlords.
What clients say
“Being new to business it was very important that I got my finances in check. Coming here they've made me feel at ease, explaining every step they take to ensure understanding behind every action.”
Noeh Khalifa“Dylan and Henry were both really helpful and easy to deal with. They explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and made the whole process simple. Would definitely recommend them.”
Trafford HorganTell us where you're up to.
A short call, no obligation, and a written quote the same working day. If we're not the right fit for you, we'll say so rather than take the work.
Message us on WhatsAppCall 07868 005731
Or email whitfieldandhanson@gmail.com — we reply the same working day.
- Fixed fee agreed before any work starts
- No charge for questions, however many
- Filed early, so you know the number in good time
- Late and missed years caught up
- HMRC-registered agents — we deal with them, not you
- Doncaster based, and you can come and sit down with us
Common questions
What will it cost?
A fixed fee, agreed before we start. What it is depends on the job — a straightforward sole trader return is not the same piece of work as four missed years with rental income attached. Tell us your situation on a short call and you'll have a written quote the same working day, with nothing to sign.
I haven't filed for years. Am I in serious trouble?
Usually less than you fear, and it gets better the moment you start rather than worse. Penalties are time-based, so the sooner the returns go in the sooner they stop growing. HMRC will normally agree a payment plan if you can't clear the bill at once. We do this regularly and it's a process, not a catastrophe.
What do you need from me?
Whatever you have. Bank statements, invoices in and out, records of expenses, details of any other income, and your UTR if you know it. If you're missing things we'll tell you exactly what's outstanding rather than leaving you to guess.
How early will you file it?
As soon as we've got what we need — often months before January. That's deliberate: filing early doesn't mean paying early, but it does mean knowing the number early, which is when you can still do something about it.
Will you charge me for asking a question?
No. Questions are in the fee, however many. An accountant you're reluctant to ring is worse than no accountant at all.
Do I need to file if I made a loss?
If you're required to file, yes — a loss doesn't remove the obligation, and the £100 late penalty applies whether you owe tax or not. Filing also records the loss properly, which can be worth real money against future profits.
Can you deal with HMRC for me?
Yes. We're HMRC-registered agents, which means we can speak to them directly about your affairs once you've authorised it. It saves you the phone queue.
Are you actually in Doncaster?
Yes — Thorpe in Balne. You're welcome to come and sit down with us, though plenty of clients we deal with entirely by phone and email.
Related
General guidance, not advice. Deadlines and penalties on this page are as they stand on 12 August 2026 and relate to the 2025 to 2026 tax year. This isn't tax advice for your circumstances — check anything important against GOV.UK or ring us.
Sources: Self Assessment deadlines and penalties, GOV.UK. Reviewed by Henry Hanson, HMRC-registered agent.