How to Triage Self Assessment Clients by Type

The first decision in tax season isn't complexity or timing — it's simpler than that. What type of client is this, and does your first document request actually match?

Why type comes first

Sending a generic document request is the single biggest cause of a slow first round. A sole trader doesn't need a P60. A landlord doesn't need a partnership profit-share agreement. Get the type wrong at first contact and you'll spend a second round of emails just correcting the request.

The five common types and what to ask for

Individual SA — P60/P45, bank interest summary, pension statements, Gift Aid records. Usually the fastest turnaround, 3–5 days.

Sole trader — business bank statements, expense records, mileage log, prior-year comparatives. Budget 7–10 days; these clients often need a nudge to pull records together.

Partnership — partnership accounts, the profit-share agreement, and each partner's drawings record. Also 7–10 days, and dependent on all partners responding, not just one.

Director — dividend vouchers, P11D, a company accounts extract, and the director's loan account statement. 5–7 days typically.

Landlord — rental income/expense schedule, mortgage interest statement, letting agent statements. 5–7 days.

When a client is more than one type

A director who's also a landlord, or a sole trader who also lets a property, isn't unusual. Where that happens, request documents for both types and default the complexity tier to Standard or above — don't assume it stays Simple just because each individual piece looks straightforward.

Keep type separate from complexity

It's tempting to fold “type” and “how hard this return will be” into one judgement call at intake. Keep them separate. Type decides what documents to request. Complexity — covered in the next step — decides who prepares the return and how deep the review goes. Conflating the two is how simple partnerships end up with senior-preparer-level review time they don't need.

Type-matched document requests are step one of a five-branch triage system. The Tax Season Operations Playbook covers the full sequence, including complexity screening, chase cadences for non-responders, and a validated PathPilot import.