by Asim Abbas
11 November 2026 
Your 2025/26 tax return checklist: every document you need
Your 2025/26 tax return checklist: every document you need
A tax return is only as good as the records behind it. If you gather everything before you start, the return itself takes a fraction of the time.
- The 2025/26 tax year ran from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026
- Start with your UTR, login and National Insurance number
- Gather records for every income source, not just your main job
- Don’t forget pension contributions, Gift Aid and allowable expenses
Missing paperwork is the main reason people leave their return until the last week of January. It’s also how allowances and expenses get missed.
This checklist covers every document you’re likely to need for your 2025/26 return, grouped by type of income, plus the reliefs people most often forget.
The basics: before you start
- Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), a 10-digit number from HMRC
- Your Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login details
- Your National Insurance number
- Last year’s tax return and any HMRC letters, such as a notice to file or a tax calculation
Can’t find your UTR? It’s on previous returns, your HMRC online account and the HMRC app.
Employment and pension income
- P60 for each job you held at 5 April 2026
- P45 for any job you left during the year
- P11D for benefits in kind such as a company car or medical insurance
- Pension statements, including your State Pension amount
Self-employment income
If you’re a sole trader, you need your sales and expenses for the year. From 2024/25 onwards, profits are taxed on a tax-year basis, so your figures should cover 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, or be adjusted to match it.
- Sales invoices and receipts, or your bookkeeping software reports
- Business bank statements
- Receipts for allowable expenses: stock, tools, phone, insurance, software, professional fees
- A business mileage log, if you claim 45p a mile
- Details of equipment or vans bought, for capital allowances
- CIS statements, if you work in construction
Not sure what counts as an expense? Our self-employed accountants page explains what you can claim.
Self Assessment tax calculator
Estimate your bill once your figures are together.
Rental income
- Rent received for each property, or letting agent statements
- Mortgage interest statements (you get a 20% tax credit, not a deduction)
- Repairs, insurance, letting fees, ground rent and service charges
- Details of any furnished holiday let: since April 2025 these are taxed like other rental income
Our landlord tax returns service prepares these pages for you.
Savings, dividends and gains
- Bank and building society interest statements: the Personal Savings Allowance is £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate
- Dividend vouchers: the dividend allowance is £500
- Records of any shares, crypto or property you sold, with purchase and sale costs
- Your 60-day Capital Gains Tax return reference, if you sold a UK home that isn’t your main residence
Fixed-fee accountancy support
Transparent monthly packages for sole traders, landlords and limited companies. Fixed fees agreed upfront, VAT included.
Get a fixed-fee quoteCall 0161 531 4179Reliefs people often forget
Pension contributions
If you pay into a personal pension or SIPP, higher and additional rate relief is claimed on your return. See our pension tax relief calculator.
Gift Aid donations
Higher rate taxpayers can claim extra relief on Gift Aid donations. Keep a list of what you gave.
The Child Benefit charge
If your income was over £60,000 and your household received Child Benefit, you may need to repay some of it. Check with our Child Benefit charge calculator.
Student loan repayments
If you’re self-employed and have a student loan, repayments are worked out on your return.
You can check the full list of what HMRC expects on GOV.UK.
What should I do next?
Put every document for 2025/26 in one place, paper or digital.
Use the sections above as a tick list.
Pensions, Gift Aid and expenses are the easiest savings to miss.
Or file it yourself well before 31 January 2027. Our Self Assessment service starts from £150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send receipts to HMRC?
No. You don’t send receipts with your return, but you must keep them for at least five years after the 31 January deadline in case HMRC asks to see them.
What if I’ve lost a P60?
Your employer can give you a copy, or you can see your pay and tax in your HMRC online account. Your final payslip of the tax year also shows the totals.
Do I need to include my bank interest?
Only if it’s above your Personal Savings Allowance, or if HMRC asks for it. Most banks send interest details to HMRC, so check your figures match.
How long should I keep my records?
At least five years after the 31 January deadline for that tax year. Keep them longer if your return was sent late or HMRC is checking it.
Can you prepare my return from my records?
Yes. Send us what you have and we’ll tell you if anything is missing. Returns start from £150 including VAT.
Need help with this? Wingate Accountants offers fixed-fee online accountancy support across the UK. Call 0161 531 4179 or request a quote at wingateaccountants.co.uk.
About the Author
Stephen Reynold
I’m Stephen Reynold, an accountant at Wingate Accountants. I work with sole traders and small companies, turning tax rules into clear, practical next steps.
