Self assessment Query?

[Dave Artis]

Hi. I registered as a sole trader a few years ago but the business I originally registered has been inactive since before I filed my last self assessment. I have been operating a different business since Oct 2017. Do I need to fill in any details on my s/a for the original business or can I just fill it in for my current business?

 

[Dave Artis]

Can anyone offer any advice?

 

[Blaby Loyal]

Have you reactivated your self-assessment record with HMRC?

 

[Dave Artis]

I'm still registered as did my self assessment last year, just waiting to find out if I can just fill in details for current business or if I need to do anything for previous one?

 

[ecommerce84]

I’m assuming that when you filed your last self assessment for that business that you put the date the business ceased trading in the relevant box?

If so and your previous business didn’t trade during the period for which you are now assessing, then you have nothing to tell them so you don’t have to submit anything relating to that business and should only fill in the details from your current business.

At the end of the day, assuming you are a sole trader, the businesses are both one and the same anyway (I.e the same legal identity), I’ve always considered the different ‘self employment’ forms on the SA to just be a way of making it easier for people to fill out their return if they keep different accounts for each of their businesses.

 

[Dave Artis]

No I didn't do that, the reality was while I was looking into starting the current business the original one just drifted, there wasn't actually a date that it ceased trading it just kind of happened if that makes sense?

 

[Scalloway]

Then fill in a page on this year's self assessment with zeros and a date for cessation.

 

[Dave Artis]

Ok thanks, I'll do that then.