Hi All,

Has anyone been able to file a tax return this year online directly on the HMRC website?

we've been through the "pain" of registering and waiting months for the activation code to arrive (first time it expired before it even arrived ) only to find out that we cannot file a tax return online as we like outside the UK.

The website recommends commercial suppliers so was just wondering if anyone can reccoment one

or has anyone managed to still file a tax retun successfully through hmrc

ta

I've done it online 5 years now with a foreign address. This year it asked for a postcode, so I put in my old London one, along with my address in Switzerland. It let me fill in the first few property pages without any problems.

and were you living in CH for the whole tax year? we've only been back fir literally a few weeks so cant be classed as a UK resedent (i think)

we rent out house in the UK so could still use that address i guess.

DO NOT GIVE A UK ADDRESS or you may be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the uk & liable to UK taxes on your world wide income. You must NOT have accodomation available for youe use in the UK.

So is my only option to file a paper version and bare the cost of a late fees?

Did mine online a couple of days ago.
For the postcode I put in my Swiss one and it was accepted.

My wife and i both file online using taxcalc software (in which i have no interest other than as satisfied user). You cant use the hmrc free system to do land and property pages. Taxcalc cost 25gbp but makes it very easy to complete the returns with loads of explanations and guidance including on residency.

You will really have to get cracking to file and to register for online filing with HMRC by 31/1 for 10/11 as registration requires them sending you a letter. Call tomorrow!

The various comments made on residence, ordinary residence etc above are all well intended but largely wrong. spend a bit of time on the internet and phone eg http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/residencedomicile.htm

For foreign addresses puT the postcode in the last line of the address fields and leave the postcode field blank. This is HMRCs guidance.

D

I would file online and send them the non-residence forms on paper to claim the split year treatment. I did that a few years back where then residence pages where not available online.

Fantastic, Thanks Danny.

its interesting reading everyones different approach.

Thanks - that works! ...and my tax return is done :-)

I've argued that in various places before, yet the same incorrect information keeps springing up.

I was thinking of doing a note on the topic, but it really is a regularly evolving feast (generally tightening by HMRC) and where although there is guidance on days etc, these are not absolute tests and are complex.

So here is a link to the HMRC guidance notes for 2011/12:

http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/...mE&formId=3191

For people with more complex circumstances get a book with one of those flow charts in, and/or some professional advice.

D

Had the same problem getting activation codes on time OBone, it took 3 attempts before the third one arrived on time.

The UK postcode I was given when I called them up, after not being able to enter a Swiss one, is Q1 1IT. It seems to be their default one for when the system decides to throw a wobbly. Works every time.

I always send the paper one, there are too many options to do something false/illegal/unwise in the on-line version!!!

As a non-resident you can not use the online version on the HMRC website, that is clearly stated there. And the Resident, Dom page form is not included in HMRC's online filing. So if you want to do it online, you have to use a third party software. We have bought Ftax, which seems to be pretty easy to use.

Now, why HMRC does not just include the resident form for online filing, I have no idea.

Despite what it says, if you call and ask the overseas team, they'll tell you you can file online.
The website is designed for the 99% or whatever of online submitters that have a UK address.

But you will then have to send the Residense form by post as it is not included in the online suite, right?

I was told by the helpline that unless I had any changes in residence that affect my foreign status then I don't need to fill them in. The years prior I posted these pages in when I wanted to declare that I was, after 3 years, no longer ordinarily resident in the UK. You would need to submit the foreign pages if you wanted to claim a split year between here and the UK or the remittance basis.

Sorry, I don't know. I did my form (paper copy) when I left originally. For the last 4 or 5 years my returns have all been online and never questioned.

I've always done ours online, but we don't really have a lot in the UK bank so don't pay much anyway.

If there are specific pages you have to fill in because of renting your place out that aren't available on the website, then you'll need to have a paper copy or get the relevant software. Otherwise I would say try the online.