Oh man. It fills me full of terror. I've decided to go with a tax accountant who's local and does other authors/illustrators I know but I'm still struggling to send the form back that he's sent me. Why is it so terrifying?! I PROMISE to send the form back to him by the end of this week. And now I've told you I'll have to do it. I actually really believe in paying tax, but

I'd been busily saving receipts in a shoe box for years in the vain hope they might come in useful. Then we moved last year and the box got thrown out. So now I only have a very few receipts for books, printer paper and cartridges. Does that mean I'll finally get the deal given I have virtually nothing to set against it? ;-)

This post makes me feel sick. It was the side I hated of being self employed. I think I might go in the corner and hide, rocking gently as I say 'No more forms...' Like Jeanette though, perhaps my fear will bring about that all elusive contract ;-)

Mine is still there. But the horror! Though I&#39;ve never been very thorough with what I keep - mostly just big stuff, like conferences. <br />Look at it this way: less math to do?

how about I&#39;ll nag you and you can nag me to sort ourselves out? LOL

actually I think my aversion to all this stuff has a similar source to you, Vanessa - in that I was self-employed (incorporated) in Australia, and I remember all the nightmares of sorting it out. I think I really should get an accountant....

Blimey. My head hurts. I feel for you fab authors having to do the tax thingies! Good luck! take care<br />x

Don&#39;t forget your bank statements - if you paid by cheque or card the payments will be recorded on there and that, as far as I understand, should be enough for your records because it is proof of payment. If you ordered stuff online, on Amazon for instance, you may be able to download receipts.<br /><br />Regarding sorting receipts. Organize them by month and then by type and it&#39;ll make

Don&#39;t be scared of Vat! The vat office team are ( surprisingly) generally very helpful and an awful lot can be done on line http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/index.htm

Teri I was self employed in Australia for a while as well and am now self employed here.<br />In both cases I recommend having an accountant. So much better for peace of mind! Also it is a motivation, my accountant is a lovely person and I feel that I have let him down personally if I don&#39;t keep on top of things. I never had that feeling when dealing with the tax department directly and they

I think you&#39;re right. I don&#39;t want to go through the pain I went through in Australia. My problem is I keep switching tax systems! I sort of had Canada figured out, then I sort of had Australia figured out. I just can&#39;t face doing it all again....!

That&#39;s my method, Amanda. Everything goes in this years folder in the filing cabinet then gets sorted when it needs sorting. It&#39;s fine doing it this way. <br />And filling in your tax return online is much easier than filing in a paper one because it only shows you the pages you need for your accounts. Not all pages for all types of businesses.<br />It&#39;s not as complicated as it seems

Oh Teri you have my sympathy and admiration. I certainly could not face a third tax system let alone a fourth!

And even the tax department can be helpful. Before I had an accountant I mismanaged things one year and was able to sort out a series of payments for my tax bill when I couldn&#39;t pay it all in one go. They are ok if you ring them as soon as you can to let them know what is going on.

Good to meet you Teri. I like the description &#39;new writing pal&#39;. You don&#39;t have to have an accountant. I&#39;ve found that the basic tax form online is not too scary after you&#39;ve done it once. You need to take it calmly and allow enough time. That said, the first year I had a go, it took 3 or 4 sessions and I sank crying onto the carpet twice. Second and third years were a

Thanks for writing it up! Great to see you. :)

What a timely blog. I&#39;m about to try and face my tax for the year. I&#39;m self-employed and have done my own form for years now - with three different businesses (music, complementary therapist &amp; landlord)! I have to admit, adding my writing revenue is scaring me at the moment. This will be the first year I&#39;ve done it. I think I might find a friendly local accountant to go through

I handed my tax return over to an accountant on my publisher&#39;s advice when numbers looked like getting big due to a film option. So far (two years) I have not been asked to produce any receipts, just the spreadsheet on which I record my income and expenses.

Note to self: must allow time for sinking, crying into the carpet.

Great write-up, Teri. It was good to be amongst fellow fearfuls, yesterday. Maureen - when you register for VAT, your returns can be due every 3 months. As you say it&#39;s good to get used to keeping records - but perhaps more than once a year!

OK. I&#39;ve done it. I&#39;ve booked an appointment in two weeks!

I&#39;m going to the talk next Monday! Glad to have a bit of preparation, so thanks for the info!

Fellow fearfuls, what a good description!

I&#39;ve been self employed for more than 20 years, and the Inland Revenue forms still terrify me! I am one half of a Business Partnership, which makes tax things more complicated, so we have a fab accountant... but he is soon to retire. I will be lost and petrified without his assistance. And Partnership forms can&#39;t be done online... you HAVE TO fill out the paper versions! I still get