To self assess or not to self assess?

[mccavish]

Last year I started renting out property and took my first payment on May 30th 2011. I informed the HMRC that I would need a UTR for self assessment. I thought that payments for 2011/12 had a deadline in twelve months time, ie Jan 2013. A two days ago a friend says that because I have applied for a UTR and registered online HMRC will expect me to file a tax return of £0 for 2010/11. If I don't I will incur a penalty even though I owe nothing. The help lines are jammed with other callers(in more need than me I imagine) and I can't find anything about this on HMRC.gov. Whilst HMRC hasn't requested any form of payment I realise that the legal responsibility lies with me to make any submissions, even a £0 one.

Do I need to start filing or is my friend wrong? Any help gratefully recieved.

[robbob]

Hello mccavish

No need to worry - presuming the revenue have processed the date as quoted (30/5/2011) your first tax return will not be until the 11/12 tax year - I.e issued April 2012 - deadline for submission if done online 31/1/2013 - and as you say date for payment 31/1/2013 unless you get the tax coded out.

[mccavish]

Thanks for your input. My friend is due a sarcastic comment.