8 strategies to optimise your Self Assessment tax returns

What is required for Self Assessment?

As outlined by HMRC, Self Assessment is a system HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses to collect Income Tax. Tax is usually deducted automatically from wages and pensions. People and businesses with other income must report it in a Self Assessment tax return.

As an accountant, you’ll know that because of the Self Assessment deadline in January, it all happens at once. But it doesn’t need to be a headache.

These are our top tips for filing personal tax returns to HMRC for your sole trader, unincorporated landlord, and limited company director accounts.

8 top tips for tax season

1. Get started early
   
   While it may sound obvious, the early bird catches the worm.
   
   Starting the personal tax return process for your clients early benefits both parties: your clients are reminded of what’s needed from them ahead of time, while you give yourself more time to do the work.
   
   How can you prepare? Knowing what to expect is easier when your practice management software stores what you did last year. This means you can find out how long a job takes based on the number of billable hours you have saved from the previous year.
   
   The result? No last-minute panics and late-night sessions, because you know what to expect.
    
2. Embrace automation
   
   Personal tax automation adopts a smart approach to tax preparation and filing. Through artificial intelligence and automation, you can process extensive data quickly and accurately, reducing the time spent on manual tasks.
   
   Modern automation tools strengthen every stage of tax preparation. The tools can extract and categorise automatically, running in the background while you work on other tasks. Additionally, built-in compliance makes your job as the accountant far easier.
   
   Don't wait, automate: get your staff trained, and you’ll understand how to best use new systems ahead of the next busy season. Your future-self will thank you.
    
3. Move to digital bookkeeping, ahead of MTD
   
   It’s tempting to think that the April 2026 deadline for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax can be kicked down the road as it seems like a while away.
   
   However, there are many benefits to moving to digital bookkeeping ahead of the deadline. For example, enrolling in MTD beta testing can help you get prepared and smooth out any creases in the process ahead of the real thing. You can get to grips with your software provider and ensure your staff and up to date on what’s expected.
   
   Plus, this means you’ll have better data and longer records when it comes round to filing quarterly submissions and final declarations. And you and your clients’ systems will be talking to each other from the get-go. No more crumpled receipts or Excel spreadsheets (though spreadsheets still qualify as part of MTD) when using a trusted software provider.
    
4. Embrace the functionality your personal tax software offers
   
   When using a reputable software provider, your personal tax solution serves to make your life easier. Features and benefits may include:
   
   - Cloud accounting functionality for a connected approach, easy data-sharing, and access from
      anywhere at any time.
   - Integration with HMRC frameworks for validating tax returns, saving you time.
   - Batch e-filing reviews across client portfolios, making the review process more efficient.
   - Automation, reducing the risk of human error and speeding up your jobs.
    
5. Stay on top of compliance
   
   Tax laws and regulations are subject to change, and it’s your job as a professional to stay on top of this changing regulatory landscape. However, this isn’t always easy when you’re managing so many moving parts.
   
   Personal tax solutions with built in compliance aim to make the process easy, and spot errors for you before you submit to HMRC. This is why it’s so important to find a trusted software partner with functionality to support you keeping up to date.
    
6. Use personal tax season as a time for relationship building 
   
   As an accountant, you may laugh at the idea that busy season is a good time for building relationships. But this a prime opportunity to connect with clients and make them feel valued.
   
   By automating manual tasks and making the most of your software solution for efficiency, you can get time back to spend on advising clients and offering value-add services.
   
   For example, using a cloud accounting suite and adopting digital record keeping gives you a clear overview of all your data—ideal for trends, cashflow predictions, and financial forecasting.
    
7. Check for errors ahead of submission
   
   You’ll know that reviewing documents is essential before submission, but it can also be hard to spot errors when you’re doing it manually—particularly during Self Assessment season.
   
   Your software should work with you to reduce the risk of human error and highlight any inconsistencies for you.
   
   For example, when using CCH iFirm Personal Tax, the errors and exceptions panel highlights any problems or inconsistencies and allows you to easily amend errors before submitting.
    
8. Adopt an integrated cloud suite
   
   A trusted partner for your practice’s personal tax needs is key. Your strategies for success depend on your employees being able to work in an integrated, efficient manner.
   
   For example, cloud accounting connects your data and makes it more accessible. It also offers functionality such as automation, data security and functionality, scalability, automatic updates, and AI.
   
   For Self Assessment tax returns this means more time for your staff to work on higher value tasks and to go above and beyond for clients.

Interested in moving your personal tax returns to an integrated cloud suite?