Joint or Separate Assessment for Form 11?

GHER

I am self-employed and all my Form 11 income tax returns since I began my business in 2009 have been joint assessments with me and my husband. Is there any reason why I can't return a separate assessment this year instead? Would Revenue be looking for additional information or a reason why?

There hasn't been a change in our personal circumstances but this time I found it easier to do a separate assessment rather than include my husbands details as I'm not sure I was entering them all correctly.

The joint assessment was showing that we owed about 3 times more income tax than what I owe if I was assessed separately - hence the reason I think I may have been entering some of his details incorrectly.

I'm on a very tight deadline to get this return done i.e Monday 18th August, for personal reasons so would appreciate any answers asap. It's also the reason why it would be easier for me to do a separate assessment rather than spending time trying to figure out if I'm doing something wrong in entering my husbands details. He is a PAYE employee and all details were entered as per the Screenshot details on ROS Form 11. They tally with his P60.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

barneystinson

Short answer, it's too late now to elect for separate assessment for 2014.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it2.html#section7

Separate assessment cannot / should not result in the ultimate tax liability of both individuals being any different than it would be under joint assessment.

Alan Shore

Does you husband have your tax credits assigned to his PAYE employment. If so that is one reason for there being a liability under joint assessment v seperate assessment.

Are you claiming married persons credit and PAYE Credit on your joint return.