Self Employed full 48 - Basis period start date

You pay tax for the tax year 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021 according to the profits of your basis period. Once your business has been running for a couple of years, and your accounting period is established, your basis period is your accounting period.

If your business began in the year ending 5 April 2021 your basis period begins on the date you started in business and ends on 5 April 2021.

If your business began in the year ending 5 April 2020 and:

• you have an accounting date in the year to 5 April 2021 and
  • it's more than 12 months after the date your business began, your basis period is the 12 months to that accounting date
  • it's less than 12 months after the date you started in business, your basis period is the 12 months beginning on the date you started
• you do not have an accounting period ending in the year to 5 April 2020, your basis period is the year 5 April 2021, your basis period is the year 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021

If you do not have an accounting date ending in the year to 5 April 2021 your basis period is the year 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021.

If your business ceased in the year to 5 April 2021, your basis period begins on the day following your last accounting date and ends on the day your business ceased.

If you've more than one set of accounts for your basis period complete separate Self-employment pages for each set of accounts, but only make entries in fields 'Date your basis period began' to 'Total taxable profits from this business' once, on the Self-employment pages for the most recent set of accounts.

Enter the date your basis period began here.