'My hamster ate my post': HMRC reveals most bizarre tax return excuses as deadline looms

Who needs to file a self-assessment tax return?

Most UK taxpayers have their taxes deducted automatically from their wages, pensions or savings, and so don't need to file a tax return.

But about 11 million tax returns are due this year, from individuals or businesses who haven't had tax automatically deducted, or have earned extra untaxed income.

You'll need to submit a tax return if any of the following applied to you in the last tax year (6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019):

• You're self-employed and your income was more than £1,000.
• Your income was more than £50,000, and you or your partner claimed child benefit.
• You earned more than £2,500 from renting out property, or from other untaxed income such as tips or commission.
• You earned more than £100,000 in taxable income.
• You earned £10,000 or more before tax from savings, investments, shares or dividends.
• You earned income from abroad, or lived abroad and had a UK income.
• You need to pay capital gains tax.
• You received income from a trust.
• Your state pension was more than your personal allowance and was your only source of income (unless you started getting your pension on or after 6 April 2016).
• HMRC has told you that you didn't pay enough tax last year (and you haven't already paid up through your tax code or voluntary payments).
• You filed a self-assessment tax return last year (even if you didn't owe any tax). You'll need to do this unless HMRC has already written to you to say you don't need to file one.

If you're still unsure, you can use the Government's free tool to check whether you need to file a tax return.