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Posted Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:29:27 GMT by Daz_Allan
I’m a freelancer writer, using self-assessment, who has only been paid by UK websites up until now (UK pounds into a UK bank account). However, in my tax return this year, I have income from a US site which pays in US dollars (from a bank in Hong Kong) – but this money arrives directly, via bank transfer, in my UK bank account, in UK pounds (the bank performs the currency conversion). Do I just declare this income as normal on my return? Or, as there’s a section for foreign income (in ‘tailor your return’), do I use that instead? As the notes say, I am being paid ‘income from a person abroad’ so do I need to use this section? The YouTube tutorial seems to suggest that this is for money earned abroad, though, which is not the case here – it’s being paid by a foreign bank, but I’m earning it in the UK, in UK pounds, to be taxed in the UK. Any help would be appreciated!
Posted Tue, 05 Nov 2024 11:34:47 GMT by HMRC Admin 19 Response
Hi,
Your client's pay you in US dollars, so you would declare the payment in US dollars in your income in the tax return, but for the purposes of the tax return, converted to GBP sterling. You should not use the sterling figure in your bank account, as the exchange to sterling is not part of  your gross income. Under the terms of Self Assessment, we do not provide an official exchange rate and the onus is on the individual to use a just and reasonable exchange rate. For your convenience, there are exchange rates here:
Exchange rates from HMRC in CSV and XML format
and for older rates here:
Foreign exchange rates and spot rates: 1 January 1989 to 31 March 2009
You are free to use any of the supplied rates or one of your own choosing. 
Thank you.
Posted Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:51:31 GMT by Daz_Allan
Hi! Thanks for your response, that makes sense. Do I need to fill in SA106, the foreign income supplementary section of the tax return, in my case? Elsewhere I have seen it suggested that this isn't required, unless you are already taxed on that foreign income abroad (and that this is only for those who want to claim Tax Credit on their foreign income, which I won't be doing, of course). Or do I just convert the US dollar amounts I've been paid to sterling, as you've outlined, and then simply incorporate those (converted) sterling payments within my normal self-assessment declared income?
Posted Fri, 08 Nov 2024 13:27:18 GMT by HMRC Admin 34 Response
Hi,
Please see guidance using the link below:
Tax on foreign income
Thank you
Posted Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:07:59 GMT by Daz_Allan
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