Living abroad doesn’t always mean you’re free of UK tax reporting. We prepare and file UK tax returns for expats and non-residents, entirely remotely and for an agreed fixed fee, prepared by a CTA-qualified specialist.
Whether you need to file depends on two things: your UK tax residence status and the type of UK income or gains you have. As a general guide:
You must usually report your worldwide income and gains, including foreign employment income, overseas rental income and investment income.
This applies to many expats who have left the UK but haven't yet become non-resident, or who spend enough time in the UK to remain resident under the Statutory Residence Test. If you're arriving or leaving part-way through the tax year, split-year treatment may also affect what you report.
If your income is wholly taxed under PAYE and you have no other sources of income or gains, you generally don't need to file a return unless HMRC asks you to.
You generally only need to report UK-sourced income and gains. You may need to file a return if you have:
You're non-resident, your only UK income is something like bank interest or dividends with no further tax due, and HMRC hasn't asked you for a return. Even so, it's worth getting your position confirmed, because filing requirements depend on the detail of your circumstances and the rules change from year to year.
Not sure whether you need to file? Our UK Tax Residence Assessment confirms your residence status, and our guide on who needs to file a UK tax return covers the criteria in full. If you have gains on UK property, see our Capital Gains Tax Returns service. Or book a consultation and we'll tell you where you stand.
We manage every step of your UK tax return, so nothing is missed and you always know where you stand.
The 2025/26 tax year ends. Start gathering your information.
Deadline to register if filing for the first time.
Last date to submit paper returns to HMRC.
Online return and tax payment due, plus your first payment on account if applicable.
Second advance payment towards next year's tax bill, if applicable.
Jacob is fast, structured, and deterministic. He responds quickly, gives clear and definitive answers where the law allows, and doesn't hide behind vague replies. He knew the expat and non-resident space cold — no need to "look into it later." The written advisory memo was clear and actionable, and the tax return was prepared and filed efficiently with minimal back-and-forth.
If you're a non-resident, digital nomad, or expat dealing with a complex tax situation, I'd strongly recommend Jacob. He's exactly the kind of advisor you want in your corner.
I contacted Jacob for advice ahead of returning to the UK after several years working overseas. He was extremely knowledgeable, thorough and responsive, particularly when some time-sensitive questions arose while I was arranging my return. His advice was clear, practical and tailored to my circumstances, and helped me navigate a complex tax-residency position with much greater confidence.
I'd highly recommend Jacob to anyone needing expatriate or UK tax-residency advice.
…he explained it simply so that I can understand everything.
…an advisor who feels like he has your best interests at heart…
…used him for a number of years and have been very happy…
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Request a quoteMany expats must still file a Self Assessment tax return if they receive UK income (rental, dividends, capital gains). If you are UK tax non-resident and do not have UK sourced income, a tax return may not be required however receiving professional UK expat tax advice helps ensure compliance and correct reporting. Our guide on who needs to file a UK tax return covers the criteria in full.
If you need to file a return for the first time, or after a gap, you must register for Self Assessment by 5 October following the end of the tax year in question. Registering as an expat from overseas can take longer than for UK residents, since HMRC typically needs to issue a Unique Taxpayer Reference by post, so it's worth starting this well before the deadline.
The UK tax return filing deadline is 31 January after the end of the tax year if filing electronically and 31 October following the end of the tax year if filing by paper.
As a non-resident, you generally only need to report UK-sourced income and gains — such as UK rental income, UK dividends, UK employment income relating to UK workdays, and gains on UK property. Foreign income and gains are generally outside the scope of a non-resident's UK return, unlike for UK residents who must report worldwide income.
Payments on account are advance payments towards next year's tax bill, generally required if your last Self Assessment bill was over £1,000 and less than 80% of your tax was collected at source. Two payments are due — 31 January and 31 July — each usually half of your previous year's tax bill, with any balancing amount due the following January once your actual liability is known.
Yes, a £100 automatic penalty is levied for late returns with further penalties charged depending how long the return remains outstanding. HMRC may also charge interest and penalties for late payment.
Yes. You can usually amend a Self Assessment return within 12 months of the original filing deadline, whether that's to correct an error or include something you missed. If that window has passed, or the error goes back further, it may need to be corrected via a different process instead, depending on how far back it goes.
Yes, UK tax returns can be prepared for up to four years after the end of the tax year. For years earlier than this, a disclosure may be required.
HMRC's free online service can't be used if you need to report non-resident pages, such as most non-resident Capital Gains Tax disposals or certain types of UK income while non-resident, so many expats need either commercial software or an agent to file. It's worth checking which category applies to you before assuming the free service will work for your situation.
Yes. Once you authorise us as your agent with HMRC, we can prepare and submit your return on your behalf, correspond with HMRC on your query, and handle the underlying calculations, so you don't need separate access to filing software yourself.
This depends on your income types, but commonly includes P60s or P45s, rental income and expense records, dividend vouchers, bank interest certificates, and details of any UK property sales. We'll confirm exactly what's needed for your circumstances once we understand your income sources.
Yes. We specialise in supporting expats and globally mobile individuals with their UK tax returns ensuring accuracy and compliance.
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