Your right, its not upto you what you return in your tax return
First tax year of trading
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]In the first year of trading i.e. on commencement, the taxable profits are the profits for the period from the date of commencement to the following 31 December.[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]This rule is in Section 66 TCA 1997.[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]Second tax year of trading[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]The assessable profits for the second year of commencement are determined as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]if there is a 12 month period of accounts ending in the second tax year of commencement, and that is the only period of accounts ending in that year, the amount of assessable profit for the year will be the profits for that 12 month period, or[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]if there is a period of accounts ending in the second tax year of commencement, and that period of account is less than 12 months and is the only period of account ending in that year, then on the taxable profits of the 12 month period ending on that date, or[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]if there are 2 (or more) periods of account ending in the second tax year of commencement, on the taxable profits of the 12 month period ending on the later (or latest) of those dates, or[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]in any other case, i.e. where there is no period of accounts ending in the second tax year of commencement or where the trade commenced less than 12 months before the accounting date ending in the year, on the actual profits of the second tax year of commencement (i.e. from 1 January to 31 December).[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]Third tax year of trading[/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]For the third tax year, the profits assessable are the profits assessable on a normal basis, i.e. the profits of the 12 month accounting period ending in the tax year. [/FONT]
[FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]There is relief provided where the taxpayer may make a claim to have the profits assessed in the third year reduced by any "[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro Bold,Adobe Garamond Pro Bold][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro Bold,Adobe Garamond Pro Bold]second year excess[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro][FONT=Adobe Garamond Pro,Adobe Garamond Pro]", which is the excess of the profits assessed in the second year over the actual profits (from 1 January to 31 December) of the second year.[/FONT]
And good luck. You will need it if you don't understand the above rules but as you said, you can't afford to get advice on doing it properly.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]