Do I Need To Submit A Tax Return If I Made No Profit At All?
As a business owner, understanding your tax obligations is crucial to staying compliant with the law and managing your finances effectively. One question we’re asked quite often, especially among those starting a new business or facing a challenging financial year, is whether they need to submit a tax return when no profit at all has been made. In this article, we’ll lay out a detailed overview of tax return requirements for both sole traders and limited companies in such scenarios.
For Sole Traders
Sole traders are the simplest form of business structure, but that doesn’t exempt them from tax responsibilities. In the United Kingdom, sole traders are required to submit a tax return once a year, a process known as self-assessment. Once you’ve registered for self-assessment, you’ll need to complete and file your tax return annually.
Here’s where it becomes important: even if your business didn’t generate any profit or, in some cases, faced a loss, you’re still obligated to submit your tax return. This obligation stems from the legal requirement of self-assessment, which applies to all registered sole traders.
It’s important to recognise that many businesses, especially those in their early stages, may experience periods of low or no profitability. This could be due to initial investments, operating expenses, or market conditions. Regardless of the financial outcome, staying compliant with tax regulations by submitting your tax return is essential. It ensures that you fulfil your legal obligations and maintain accurate financial records.
Moreover, adhering to the self-assessment process can be beneficial in the long run. It allows you to keep a comprehensive record of your business finances, which can be valuable for tracking your financial progress, identifying areas for improvement, and optimising your tax position in the future.
Check out our guide to self-assessment tax returns for more in-depth information.
Your partner in business
Looking for a professional accountant to help you with tax returns and more?
Not based in Oxford? No problem! We’re fully digital and offer services to businesses all over the UK.
For Limited Companies
Limited companies, with a more complex business structure, also have tax return obligations. Just like sole traders, limited companies must submit a corporation tax return annually. This applies to companies registered for corporation tax, regardless of their financial performance during the tax year.
In situations where a limited company experiences a financial year with no profit or even a loss, the requirement to file a tax return remains unchanged. The law mandates this consistent approach, ensuring that all companies, irrespective of their financial situation, fulfil their tax obligations.
However, there is an additional aspect to consider for limited companies. If your company becomes dormant for tax purposes, you can contact HMRC to inform them of this status change. In this dormant state, you won’t be expected to file tax returns until your company resumes trading activities. This can provide some relief from the annual filing requirement during periods of inactivity.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to emphasise the importance of notifying HMRC about your company’s dormant status. Failure to do so, along with neglecting to submit tax returns, can result in penalties for non-compliance.
The obligation to submit a tax return remains in place for both sole traders and limited companies, irrespective of their financial performance during the tax year. It’s a fundamental part of fulfilling your legal responsibilities as a business owner.
Submitting your tax return, even when no profit has been made, serves multiple purposes. It ensures compliance with tax regulations, maintains accurate financial records, and positions your business for effective financial management in the future.
For those facing complex tax situations or seeking to optimise their tax position, the team at Joanna Bookkeeping is always here to help! Book a call and have a chat with our professional Oxford-based accountants to learn more about how we can help you with your tax obligations and so much more.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a sole trader, you are allowed to have £1,000 per year of turnover without reporting it to HMRC and filing a tax return. This is called a trading allowance.
The trading allowance doesn’t apply to limited companies. If your limited company is registered for corporation tax, it has to submit a tax return regardless of a level of income.
It is your duty to be aware of your legal obligations when you run a business whether it is via self-employment or running a limited company. HMRC may communicate with you that you need to submit a tax return but it may not be via letters. They can notify you in an email. Not receiving any communication from HMRC, doesn’t mean you are not required to submit a tax return. And if you just started a business, HMRC may not know about it and won’t send you any communication. This also doesn’t mean you don’t have to file a tax return. If you aren’t sure whether you need to submit a tax return to HMRC, talk to a professional accountant.
Your Accountant in Oxford
Oxford Office
Joanna Bookkeeping
The Wheelhouse Angel Court
First Floor, Angel Court
81 St Clements St
Oxford
OX4 1AW
Connect
joanna@joannabookkeeping.co.uk
01865 591952
