What documents do I need for a UK tax return?
A simple, friendly record checklist for your UK Self Assessment tax return, with extra checks for expats.
Short answer: Getting your documents together is simpler than you think. You only need your basic income statements (P60, P45, rental summaries, or bank interest) and your travel dates if you live abroad. Matthew reviews your paperwork and tells you exactly what is needed.
Key points
- Income documents: P60, P45, pension statements, dividend vouchers, and bank interest.
- Rental property: annual rental statements, letting agent fees, and repair invoices.
- Living abroad: flight dates, UK arrival/departure log, and work calendars.
- Property/Share sales: purchase contracts, sale completion statements, and improvement costs.
Your simple document checklist
You do not need to send physical paper receipts to HMRC. You just need clear digital copies or summaries of your numbers for the tax year (6 April to 5 April):
Not sure which documents apply to you?
Send Matthew what you have. He checks your paperwork, tells you if anything is missing, and calculates your return accurately.
- Employment & Pension: P60 from your employer, P45 if you left a job, or annual pension statements
- Property Landlords: annual rental statements, agent commission invoices, repair receipts, and mortgage interest certificates
- Savings & Investments: bank interest summaries, dividend vouchers, and foreign income statements
- Expats & Non-residents: flight tickets, passport stamps, and a calendar of days spent in the UK
Written and reviewed by Matthew S Manderson CTA ATT AMIT
Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), Association of Malta International Taxation (AMIT). General guidance only; tax treatment depends on individual facts.