DIY – know your limits

BriefcaseLike fish and chips or even Ant and Dec, DIY and the Great British public just seem to go together.

Isn’t there a certain satisfaction in building something for yourself?  There can be a great sense of achievement and, unless you are very unlucky, what does it matter if it goes wrong?

For me though, the great thing about DIY is that people usually know their limits.  Yes, you can paint a room or put together a piece of flat pack furniture, but if you want an extension or a new kitchen you know to call in the experts.

Sadly, many people do not follow this logic with their financial affairs. Tax is not straightforward and a mistake can leave you with a large bill with interest and penalties.

A badly prepared DIY tax return can be far more stressful and financially damaging than building any piece of furniture.

Take a minute to think about your last tax return.  Did you claim all the expenses to which you were entitled?  Did you separate expenditure into capital and revenue? If you own a rental property jointly, are you sure that you returned the correct amount of income on each tax return? Although the software may make it seem fairly straightforward, the detailed guides and notes behind the scenes run to hundreds of pages.  Did you look at any of these – or like the instructions that came with the furniture, did you have a quick glance and carry on regardless?

Unlike hiring a professional for your DIY, with tax advice you may even receive tax relief on our advice making the cost even lower.  Did you know that we provide peace of mind for a net cost from as little as £12 per month?  What is more, we provide free initial consultations – there really is no excuse for you to risk your tax affairs falling apart!