If ive done it wrong-how much trouble could i be in here?

[Jenny Foreigner]

I filed my first self employed tax reuturn in 1991 and I asked for an NI exemption then as i had low earnings. I seem to remember I got it. I just dont know where my records are as I have a lot of stuff in storage and this might not even be part of my records. I think i may have just kept the tax stuff.

Ove the years of working as employed and unemployment and small amounts of self employment - i just assumed I still had the small earnings exemption as i earnt beow the tax threshold.

Do I need to apply for exemption each year?

Secondly, I am confused if that was when i registered as self employed for NI or not. Would that have been the case back then that i had to do this twice- once with the tax man and a second time with the NI.

If ive got it all wrong and i start calling them and trying to sort it all out properly--- to what extent can i be penalised?

Thanks