The 2025/26 Tax Year Has Ended… Future You Will Thank You for Reading This
Last week I received a familiar phone call.
It wasn't from a new crypto investor.
It wasn't from someone who had just discovered HMRC's letters about undeclared wallets.
It was something much more predictable.
"I've got until January... haven't I?"
Technically... yes.
Practically... absolutely not.
Every year, thousands of people wait until Christmas before thinking about their Self Assessment tax return. By then, paperwork has gone missing, wallets have been forgotten, exchanges have closed accounts, property statements need chasing and everyone suddenly wants an accountant at exactly the same time.
The irony?
The easiest tax return you'll ever complete is the one you start preparing today.
The 2025/26 Tax Year Is Officially Over
The tax year ended on 5 April 2026.
That means the clock is now ticking towards your filing deadline.
Whether you're:
investing in crypto,
trading crypto,
earning staking rewards,
receiving rental income,
self-employed,
a company director,
or have multiple income sources,
now is the ideal time to start gathering everything together.
Don't leave it until December when you'll struggle to remember why that £18,000 landed in your wallet or which exchange you used eighteen months ago.
Your future self will genuinely thank you.
There's Another Reason You Shouldn't Wait This Year
2026 isn't just another tax year.
It's the year that Making Tax Digital for Income Tax begins.
From 6 April 2026, if your gross income from self-employment and/or property exceeds £50,000, you'll move onto HMRC's new digital reporting system. Instead of one annual Self Assessment return for those income sources, you'll be expected to keep digital records using compatible software and submit quarterly updates throughout the year, followed by an end-of-year declaration.
Notice what I didn't say.
This does not apply simply because your salary is over £50,000.
It's aimed at sole traders and landlords whose qualifying business or rental income exceeds the threshold.
I've already spoken to several clients who thought their PAYE salary meant they had to change immediately.
Thankfully, that's not how the rules work.
Crypto Investors Should Be Especially Organised
Crypto rarely arrives with a neat folder.
Instead, it arrives as:
wallets
exchanges
DeFi activity
staking rewards
NFTs
airdrops
transfers between platforms
forgotten accounts
CSV files from five different exchanges
Every month that passes makes reconstructing your records more difficult.
The clients who have the smoothest Self Assessment experience aren't necessarily the ones with the simplest affairs.
They're simply the ones who prepare early.
What Should You Start Collecting Now?
Think of this as building your tax file while everything is still fresh.
Gather together:
P60s and P45s
P11Ds
dividend statements
bank interest certificates
pension information
rental income and expenses
mortgage interest statements
self-employment income and expenses
crypto transaction history from every exchange and wallet
capital gains information
charitable donations
pension contributions
If you wait until January, some of these documents become surprisingly difficult to obtain.
The Biggest Mistake We See Every Year
People assume that because the deadline is in January, nothing needs doing until January.
That's a bit like deciding to start Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.
Possible?
Sometimes.
Stressful?
Almost always.
Let Us Do the Hard Work
At Crypto Tax Accountants, we help clients throughout the UK with:
Self Assessment tax returns
Crypto tax reporting
Capital Gains Tax calculations
HMRC disclosures
Rental property taxation
Self-employed tax returns
Landlord tax
Company directors' personal tax returns
Whether your affairs are straightforward or involve multiple wallets, exchanges and investments, we'll explain everything in plain English and ensure your return is prepared accurately.
The earlier we receive your information, the more time we have to identify tax-saving opportunities and avoid the January rush.
If you'd like us to prepare your 2025/26 Self Assessment return, get in touch today.
We'll tell you exactly what information we need, handle the calculations and submit everything to HMRC on your behalf, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Your January self will be very pleased you made the call today.
Disclaimer: This blog is provided as general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax or professional advice. Tax legislation can change and individual circumstances vary. Protection and reliance apply only to clients of Crypto Tax Accountants following formal engagement.
