Can I Hire an Accountant Just for My Self Assessment

At Towerstone Accountants we provide specialist personal tax services, for self employed, and individuals across the UK. This article has been written to explain Can I hire an accountant just for my Self Assessment, in clear practical terms, so you understand how personal tax and Self Assessment rules apply in real situations. Our aim is to help you stay compliant, avoid costly mistakes, and make confident tax decisions.

This is a question I hear almost every week, usually from people who assume the answer is no. There is a common belief that accountants only work with business owners on monthly packages or that once you engage one you are locked into an ongoing relationship. In reality, hiring an accountant just for your Self Assessment tax return is not only possible, it is very common and for many people it is the most sensible option.

From my experience working with individuals, sole traders, landlords, company directors, and people with multiple income streams, the Self Assessment return is often the single most stressful financial task they deal with each year. It combines deadlines, penalties, complex rules, and the fear of getting something wrong. In this article, I explain clearly whether you can hire an accountant purely for your Self Assessment, what that service usually includes, who it makes sense for, how much it typically costs, and what you should expect from the process.

I will also explain when it might not be necessary and how to decide whether professional help is worth it for your situation. Everything here is based on current UK practice and real world experience rather than theory.

What Self Assessment Actually Involves

Before deciding whether to hire an accountant, it helps to understand what Self Assessment really is and why it causes so many problems.

Self Assessment is HMRC’s system for collecting Income Tax from people whose tax is not fully dealt with through PAYE. This applies to a wide range of individuals, including:

• Self employed sole traders
• Landlords with rental income
• Company directors receiving dividends
• Higher earners with complex PAYE positions
• People with foreign income
• Individuals with capital gains
• Those claiming certain tax reliefs

On the surface, the tax return looks like a form. In practice, it is a legal declaration that everything you report is complete, accurate, and compliant with UK tax law. When you submit it, you are confirming that you understand the rules and have applied them correctly.

In my experience, the difficulty is rarely typing numbers into boxes. The difficulty is knowing:

• What income must be included
• What expenses are genuinely allowable
• Which reliefs apply to you
• How losses should be treated
• How student loans and the High Income Child Benefit Charge interact
• Whether to use the cash basis or accruals basis
• How payments on account work and when they apply

This uncertainty is usually the point where people start to question whether doing it themselves is the right decision.

The Short Answer, Yes You Can

To be absolutely clear, you can hire an accountant solely to deal with your Self Assessment tax return.

This is a standard standalone service offered by most UK accountancy firms, including my own. You are not required to sign up for monthly bookkeeping, payroll, or ongoing advisory services unless you want to.

In most cases, the engagement is limited to:

• Reviewing your income sources
• Checking expenses and reliefs
• Preparing the Self Assessment return
• Calculating the tax liability
• Advising on payment deadlines
• Submitting the return to HMRC

Once the return is filed, the engagement ends. Some clients come back every year, others only use an accountant during more complex years, such as when they sell a property, start self employment, or receive a significant one off income.

Why People Choose an Accountant Just for Self Assessment

There are several reasons why people decide to bring in professional help for this one task.

Peace of mind is a big factor. Many people are perfectly capable of completing the return but do not feel confident that they are doing it correctly. HMRC penalties, interest, and compliance letters have a way of making people second guess themselves.

Time is another major reason. Gathering figures, understanding guidance, and checking rules can take hours, sometimes days. For many people, paying an accountant is simply a way of buying that time back.

Complexity also plays a role. Even a situation that looks simple can quickly become complicated once dividends, rental income, student loans, or child benefit are involved.

From my perspective, people often come to me after one of the following has happened:

• They have received an unexpected tax bill
• They are unsure whether expenses are allowable
• HMRC has asked questions about a previous return
• Their income has changed significantly
• They are worried they have done something wrong in earlier years

In these cases, a one off Self Assessment service is often exactly what they need.

What a Self Assessment Only Service Usually Includes

When you hire an accountant just for Self Assessment, the service is usually more involved than people expect.

I would normally start by reviewing your overall tax position, not just filling in a form. This includes checking whether you are actually required to submit a return and whether HMRC’s records match reality.

The process typically includes:

• Reviewing all sources of income
• Checking expense claims against HMRC rules
• Identifying missed reliefs or allowances
• Calculating the correct tax and National Insurance
• Explaining payments on account clearly
• Filing the return on your behalf
• Confirming what and when you need to pay

Where necessary, it may also include:

• Amending a previous return
• Registering you for Self Assessment
• Dealing with HMRC queries
• Advising on how to reduce future tax bills legally

This is why the service often provides more value than simply avoiding mistakes. It can improve your overall tax position going forward.

Who This Makes Sense For

Hiring an accountant just for Self Assessment makes particular sense if you fall into certain categories.

In my experience, it is especially useful for:

• First time Self Assessment filers
• Sole traders without regular bookkeeping support
• Landlords with changing property portfolios
• Company directors unsure about dividends and PAYE
• Higher earners affected by tax traps
• Anyone with foreign income or capital gains

It is also common for people who are usually comfortable doing their own returns to seek help during a year where something unusual has happened.

When You Might Not Need an Accountant

It is also important to be honest about when professional help may not be necessary.

If your situation is genuinely simple, for example one PAYE job, small amounts of bank interest, and no reliefs or complications, you may be able to complete your return confidently using HMRC’s system.

That said, many people think their situation is simple when it is not. I often see errors around mileage claims, home office expenses, dividend reporting, and student loan calculations.

The key question I suggest asking yourself is not “Can I fill in the form” but “Am I confident I understand the rules behind it”.

How Much Does It Cost

Costs vary depending on complexity, location, and the level of support required.

As a general guide, a straightforward Self Assessment return prepared by an accountant might cost a few hundred pounds. More complex cases involving rental income, capital gains, or multiple income sources will cost more.

What matters more than the headline fee is what you receive in return. A good accountant will explain the figures, flag future issues, and help you avoid costly mistakes.

From my perspective, the value often comes from what is prevented rather than what is done.

What to Expect When You Engage an Accountant

If you decide to hire an accountant just for Self Assessment, the process should feel structured and clear.

You should expect:

• A clear explanation of what information is needed
• Transparent pricing agreed upfront
• Questions about your income and circumstances
• Time to review the figures before submission
• Clear guidance on payment deadlines

You should not feel rushed or pressured into ongoing services you do not want.

Key takeaways

Yes, you can absolutely hire an accountant just for your Self Assessment, and for many people, it is a sensible, cost effective decision.

Self Assessment is not just an administrative task, it is a legal declaration with real consequences if done incorrectly. Getting professional support for this one area does not mean you are committing to long term accountancy services. It simply means you are choosing clarity, confidence, and compliance.

In my experience, most people who use an accountant for Self Assessment do so not because they cannot do it themselves, but because they value certainty and want to get it right.

You may also find our guidance on Can I do my own tax return or should I use an accountant, and How do I find a good accountant for self employed workers, helpful when reviewing related personal tax questions. For a broader overview of Self Assessment deadlines, reporting, and obligations, you can visit our self assessment guidance hub.