Self Assessment FAQ

For queries and help regarding the software, please first search the frequently asked questions below. If you require further assistance, please use the Contact Us form.

Activating the software, submitting to HMRC and amending your return
- What can I do with an unactivated version of the application?
  - Unactivated, the ABC application is fully functional except you cannot submit to the HMRC.
- I've purchased a key, but have closed the 'Evaluation mode' popup - how do I get it back so I can paste my key in?
  - To reopen it click the app menu in the top right and select 'Activate tax return ...'.
- I purchased a license for ABC SA100 but reinstalled my operating system (or changed to another computer) - can I use the activation key on the new computer/OS installation?
  - Yes, you can re-enter the activation code you were sent to activate the application on a different computer.
- Why can't I submit the form to HMRC when it still has validation errors?
  - The HMRC systems will reject submissions that do not pass validation tests - for example not having mandatory fields populated, or values that appear to contradict each other. Therefore the ABC application will insist that all errors have been fixed before submission. However, since the ABC application performs all the calculations that HMRC will do, you are able to view the total tax you owe based on the data you have entered at any point, even if you have validation errors outstanding.
- Why do I get "1046 Authentication Failure. The supplied user credentials failed validation for the requested service."?
  - That message means that the HMRC User ID and HMRC Password you entered when submitting were rejected by the HMRC.
    
    Authentication Error means that the UTR (Unique Tax Reference), Gateway ID or password are incorrect, or that they are not the right ones for your HMRC account. It could also mean that the Self Assessment service is not activated for your account on HMRC's website.
    
    Advice for SA100 authentication error Advice for SA800 authentication error
- Why does the submission process to the HMRC take so long?
  - The HMRC servers are designed to handle a large number of simultaneous submissions, and to always either succeed in processing or give a clear message and allow submission to be continued later. In order to make that possible, the servers process your submission via several different steps. There will always be a delay between each step, and at very busy periods (for example the last week of January) HMRC servers can take a significant amount of time to handle the queue. The ABC application will keep you informed of progress, and if the submission does fail to be processed, you will get a clear message and be able to try again.
- What happens if my network connection goes down during the submission process - how will I know if the HMRC got it?
  - Whatever happens during submission, you will get a clear message regarding your status. For example, if your computer runs out of power during a submission, when you restart the application you will see a message stating whether the submission succeeded or failed, and you can continue the submission process where you left off.
- I have already submitted my return via another route. Can I use ABC SA100 to submit an amendment?
  - Yes, ABC SA100 and ABC SA800 can be used to submit an amendment - tick the 'Amended return?' checkbox on the popup that asks for your gateway ID and password. Note that HMRC only allow electronic submissions to be made up to 12 months after the original 31 January deadline.
- Can I change my tax return after I submit to the HMRC?
  - Yes. The HMRC allow submitting an amended return electronically up to nine times within the year after the 31 January deadline. To submit an amended return, tick the 'Amended return?' checkbox on the popup that asks for your gateway ID and password.
Errors and issues
- I am having trouble viewing the tax summary, or help files - why?
  - Our product uses the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to display the tax summary and, on Windows, the HMRC help documents.
    
    Please ensure you have that installed, and if not, install it from http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
General queries
- What is the figure displayed at the top of ABC SA100?
  - It is the tax owed for the tax year in question. If it is negative, you have overpaid tax i.e. a refund is due.
    
    To see a summary of how that calculation is reached, click the 'Summary' button to the right.
    
    After you add Payments On Account information you can see the amount you owe by 31 Jan, which can be different to the tax owed for the tax year since it incorporates POA from last year and POA for next year.
- How do I save what I have entered so I can add more later?
  - Your data is automatically saved as you enter it - there is no need to press a 'Save' button. You can exit the application at any time, and when you launch again your data will be in place and you will automatically reopen the page you were on when you exited.
- For my return I need to attach supporting information, how do I send that with my return?
  - You can attach .pdf files to your return, up to a maximum of 5MB for all attachments.
- Two of us need to do our tax returns on the same computer - can we do that and do we need to buy two activation codes?
  - Yes, each individual doing a return will need an activation key.
    
    You can submit multiple returns from the same installation - to switch between them, click the app menu in the top right and select 'Open tax return'.
- What tax scenarios are not supported?
  - ABC SA100 does not contain the supplementary forms for:
    
    * Lloyd's Underwriters (SA103L)
    
    In addition the following scenarios are not supported:
    
    * Multiple chargeable event gains
    
    * Disclosures regarding the Swiss/UK Tax Cooperation Agreement
    
    The following scenarios can be submitted, though may require additional calculations to be performed manually and detailed via an attachment:
    
    * Capital Gains Tax
    
    * Cases involving Top Slicing Relief
- What are the system requirements?
  - ABC software can be installed on a PC running Windows 10 or newer or on a Mac running OS 10.11 (El Capitan) or newer.
- Where is my data stored?
  - Your data is stored entirely on your local computer until the point you submit to the HMRC, where the form content you have chosen to submit is sent over secure HTTPS directly to the HMRC.