HMRC Free Online Service

HMRC’s own online service lets you file your Self Assessment tax return directly, for free. It does the job, but it won’t prompt you for savings and it can’t be used for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

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At a glance

This is the official route: sign in, fill in the return online and submit it to HMRC. It costs nothing, and you can save your progress and come back later.

Free

31 Jan

Online filing deadline

No charge to file

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What is HMRC’s online service?

It’s HMRC’s own website for completing and submitting a Self Assessment tax return. You sign in, work through the sections that apply to you, and HMRC calculates what you owe. You’ll need your sign in details and your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). If you’ve never filed before, you need to register for Self Assessment first - HMRC asks you to do this by 5 October after the end of the tax year.

Is it really free?

Yes. There’s no charge to use the service or to file, and no paid tier.

Key features

Free to use and free to file
Save your return and come back to it later
HMRC works out your tax bill once you’ve entered your figures
View returns you’ve filed before
Print your tax calculation
Sign up for paperless notifications

Who can’t use it?

HMRC’s online service doesn’t cover every type of return. You’ll need commercial software or a paper return if you’re filing:

For a partnership
For a trust or an estate
As a non-resident who lived abroad
To report multiple chargeable event gains
With income from a trust, or as a Lloyd’s underwriter or religious minister

Cost and deadlines

There’s nothing to pay for the service. The costs to watch are HMRC’s penalties if you miss a deadline:

Online returns for the 2025 to 2026 tax year are due by 11:59pm on 31 January 2027
Any tax you owe is due by the same date
File late and there’s an initial £100 penalty
After three months, daily penalties of £10 a day apply, up to a maximum of £900

Is HMRC’s online service MTD compatible?

No. Once you’re in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, HMRC says you must keep digital records, send quarterly updates and submit your tax return using MTD-compatible software. MTD applies from 6 April 2026 if your qualifying income was over £50,000 in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, from 6 April 2027 if it was over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026, and from 6 April 2028 if it was over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027. Below those thresholds you can keep using the free online service.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Completely free
The official service, direct from HMRC
Works out your tax bill for you
Save and return at any time before the deadline
Fine for simple returns with one or two income sources

Cons:

Can’t be used for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
No tax-saving prompts beyond HMRC’s own guidance notes
Doesn’t cover partnerships, trusts or non-residents
No bookkeeping - you need your totals worked out before you start
Help is limited to HMRC’s own guidance and helplines

Who is HMRC’s free online service best for?

If your affairs are simple, your income is under the MTD threshold and you’re comfortable reading HMRC’s guidance, there’s no need to pay for anything else. The free service files the same return as paid software. Paid tools earn their fee when you want more hand-holding, tax-saving prompts or a return type HMRC’s service doesn’t cover. And once MTD for Income Tax applies to you, you’ll have to move to compatible software anyway.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it free to file a Self Assessment return with HMRC?

Yes. HMRC’s online service is free to use and there’s no charge to submit your return.

What do I need to file online with HMRC?

Your sign in details (you can create them if you don’t have any) and your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). If you haven’t filed before, register for Self Assessment first.

Can I use HMRC’s online service for Making Tax Digital?

No. Under MTD for Income Tax you have to use compatible software for your digital records, quarterly updates and tax return.

When is the online filing deadline?

11:59pm on 31 January 2027 for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. Paper returns are due earlier, by 31 October 2026.

Who can’t use HMRC’s online service?

Partnerships, trusts and estates, non-residents who lived abroad, and a few others such as Lloyd’s underwriters and religious ministers. They need commercial software or a paper return.

Compare tax filing software for sole traders

HMRC’s free online service is one option among several worth comparing. Browse the full Tax Filing Software directory to compare it against GoSimpleTax, Taxfix, TaxCalc and other options.

Deadlines and rules correct at time of publication. Always check GOV.UK for the current position before you file.