Filing UK tax return - online or on paper?

My wife and I are required to file UK self assessment tax returns for this year. We are US citizens, UK resident but US domiciled.

I understand that HMRC's online service does not support filing the SA109 form, which is required for anyone not domiciled in the UK (whether claiming the remittance basis or not). So I thought some of the folks on this board might be in the same situation.

Do the rest of you file your UK tax returns on paper, or online using commercial software? If the latter, which software package do you use? Thanks.

I understand that HMRC's online service does not support filing the SA109 form, which is required for anyone not domiciled in the UK (whether claiming the remittance basis or not). So I thought some of the folks on this board might be in the same situation.

Just a quick question after looking at SA109 for the first time.... it's a really bad form....Do you really need to file it if you are not UK domiciled but are ordinarily resident and taxed on an arising basis?

......the SA109 form, which is required for anyone not domiciled in the UK (whether claiming the remittance basis or not).

Where are you finding directions that say it is required to file SA109 if you are filing on the 'arising basis'?

Where are you finding directions that say it is required to file SA109 if you are filing on the 'arising basis'?

The language differs slightly depending on where you look, but it now does look like SA109 is not required if claiming the arising basis. Sorry for not checking more thoroughly earlier.

Back to my original question though - anyone using the remittance basis will need to file SA109, meaning they'll need to use a paper return or commercial software. Has anyone had experience with any of the commercial tax filing packages out there, or do you all fill in the paper forms the old fashioned way?

...but there are tens of thousands who need to file to claim the £2,000 exemption or to elect for treaty relief for IRAs, 401(k)s and other US retirement plans...

I have usually seem these done on paper as for most people this is less expensive than paying for software.

...but there are tens of thousands who need to file to claim the £2,000 exemption or to elect for treaty relief for IRAs, 401(k)s and other US retirement plans...

I have usually seem these done on paper as for most people this is less expensive than paying for software.

I thought you didn't need to make a claim if you had under 2000 GBP in unremitted foreign income.

Form SA109 confused me greatly, so many double negatives. I love the title "Residence, Remittance basis, etc." what does "etc" mean exactly. Did the author just not bother to be explicit? If I was his/her editor I'd demand a rewrite.

How do you use SA109 to inform HMRC that even though you are not resident outside the UK you are still claiming Tax Treaty exemptions because of US citizenship?

I read SA100 and as a US/UK dual citizen, resident, ordinarily resident and domiciled in the UK (that's what I'll be if I move back to the UK) being taxed on an arising basis and not resident anywhere else but the UK it looks like I don't file SA109 as I would answer "No" to question 8 on page TR2. So I imagine I'd claim Treaty relief for gains in IRAs etc in the "Any Other Information" section explaining that although I'm not resident in the US I am taxed by the US because of my citizenship.

I thought you didn't need to make a claim if you had under 2000 GBP in unremitted foreign income.

The way I read the instructions, having unremitted foreign income under £2000 will not on its own require you to file a tax return. However, if there is some other reason why you are required to file, you do need to include the SA109 in your return even if your unremitted foreign income is under the £2000 threshold (there's a tick box for this purpose).

How do you use SA109 to inform HMRC that even though you are not resident outside the UK you are still claiming Tax Treaty exemptions because of US citizenship?

I read SA100 and as a US/UK dual citizen, resident, ordinarily resident and domiciled in the UK (that's what I'll be if I move back to the UK) it looks like I don't file SA109 as I would answer "No" to question 8 on page TR2. So I imagine I'd claim Treaty relief for gains in IRAs etc in the "Any Other Information" section explaining that although I'm not resident in the US I am taxed by the US because of my citizenship.

That sounds right. I phoned HMRC a few years back and a nice man told me to just describe the details of the treaty exemptions I was claiming in the other information section. I used this section to indicate that I had a Roth IRA covered by the treaty.