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You need to keep records if you have to send HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) a Self Assessment tax return.

You鈥檒l need your records to fill in your tax return correctly. If HMRC checks your tax return, they may ask for the documents.

How to keep your records

There are no rules on how you must keep records. You can keep them on paper, digitally or as part of a software program (like book-keeping software).

HMRC can charge you a penalty if your records are not accurate, complete and readable.

Lost or destroyed records

Try to get copies of as much as you can, for example ask banks for copies of statements or suppliers for duplicate invoices.

You can use 鈥榩rovisional鈥� or 鈥榚stimated鈥� figures if you cannot recreate all your records. You must use the 鈥楢ny other information鈥� box on the tax return to say that this is what you鈥檙e doing.

You may have to pay interest and penalties if your figures turn out to be wrong and you have not paid enough tax.

How long you should keep your records depends on whether you send your tax return before or after the deadline.

Tax returns sent on or before the deadline

You should keep your records for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year the tax return is for.

Tax returns sent after the deadline

You should keep your records for at least 15 months after you sent the tax return.

Income from employment

You should keep documents about your pay and tax, including:

• your P45 - if you leave your job, this shows your pay and tax to the date you left
• your P60 - if you鈥檙e in a job on 5 April, this shows your pay and tax for the tax year
• form P11D - this shows your expenses and benefits, like a company car or health insurance
• certificates for any Taxed Award Schemes
• information about any redundancy or termination payment

You should also keep details of any other income or benefits from your job, including:

• any tips received (unless your employer pays them through the 鈥榯ronc鈥� system, which means they will have deducted tax already)
• benefits you get in connection with your job from someone other than your employer, like meal vouchers
• any lump sum payments not included on your P60 or P45, like incentive payments or 鈥榞olden hellos鈥� (payments you get to encourage you to take a new job)

Expense records

If you鈥檝e had to pay for things like tools for work, travel costs or specialist clothing for work, you may be able to claim for these to reduce the tax you鈥檒l have to pay. You need to keep a record of these so you can include them in your tax return.

Benefits records

You should keep any documents relating to:

• social security benefits
• Statutory Sick Pay
• Statutory Maternity, Paternity or Adoption Pay
• Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance

Income from employee share schemes or share-related benefits

You should keep:

• copies of share option certificates and exercise notices
• letters about any changes to your options
• information about what you paid for your shares and the relevant dates
• details of any benefits you鈥檝e received as an employee shareholder

You should keep all:

• bank or building society statements and passbooks
• statements of interest and income from your savings and investments
• tax deduction certificates from your bank
• dividend vouchers you get from UK companies
• unit trust tax vouchers
• documents that show the profits you鈥檝e made from life insurance policies (called 鈥榗hargeable event certificates鈥�)
• details of income you get from a trust
• details of any out-of-the ordinary income you鈥檝e received, like an inheritance

Pension information

You should keep:

• form P160 (Part 1A) which you got when your pension started
• form P60 which your pension provider sends you every year
• any other details of a pension (including State Pension) and the tax deducted from it

You should keep details of:

• the dates when you let out your property
• all rent you get
• any income from services you give to tenants (for example if you charge for maintenance or repairs)
• rent books, receipts, invoices and bank statements
• allowable expenses you pay to run your property (for example services you pay for such as cleaning or gardening)

There are rules about what you can and cannot claim as expenses on your tax return.

You may have to pay Capital Gains Tax if you sell (or 鈥�dispose of鈥�) certain assets that have gone up in value since you got them.

You must make sure you keep the correct records.

You should keep:

• evidence of income you鈥檝e earned from overseas, like payslips, bank statements or payment confirmations
• receipts for any overseas expenses you want to claim to reduce your tax bill
• dividend certificates from overseas companies
• certificates or other proof of the tax you鈥檝e already paid - either in the UK or overseas