I have not filed my UK tax return
What to do if a UK Self Assessment return is late, missing or incomplete.
Short answer: Do not wait for HMRC to contact you. Establish which tax years and income sources are outstanding, register if necessary, file the correct returns and deal with any tax, interest or penalties due. If you were living abroad, the missing residence pages, UK rental income or property reports may be as important as the headline return.
Key points
- Identify every outstanding tax year.
- Check whether HMRC issued a notice to file.
- Include residence, property and foreign-income information where relevant.
- File first, then review penalties and payment options.
Start with a year-by-year timeline
List where you lived, what you earned, UK visits, property ownership, employment and major transactions for each outstanding year. This prevents a late return from repeating the original uncertainty.
Do not use an old form by default
Residence tests, property reporting and overseas-income rules change. Use the current return and guidance for each tax year, and preserve the records that support the position you report.
If the figures are complex
A written review can separate missing information from genuinely uncertain treatment. Matthew can identify the next filing action, the evidence needed and whether HMRC correspondence requires a formal response.
Written and reviewed by Matthew S Manderson CTA ATT AMIT
Reviewed 3 September 2026. General guidance only; tax treatment depends on individual facts.