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How to register as self-employed

Once you earn over £1,000 from self-employment you need to register with HMRC for Self Assessment. It is free and done online. Here are the four steps, the deadlines, and what it costs.

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To register as self-employed you tell HMRC you are trading as a sole trader and sign up for Self Assessment. It is free, done online, and the deadline is 5 October in your second tax year. Here is exactly how to do it.

  1. 1

    Check you need to register

    You must register if you earned more than £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year (6 April to 5 April). Below that, the trading allowance usually covers you and you may not need to register at all.

  2. 2

    Set up a Government Gateway account

    Create an account on GOV.UK if you do not already have one. You will use it to manage your tax online. Have your National Insurance number and contact details to hand.

  3. 3

    Register for Self Assessment

    Register as a sole trader for Self Assessment, giving your business start date and the nature of your work. The deadline is 5 October in your second tax year of trading.

  4. 4

    Get your UTR and file

    HMRC posts you a 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within about 10 working days. You use it to file your first Self Assessment return and pay any tax due by 31 January.

Diary dates

The deadlines to know

Once you are registered, a few dates run every year. Missing them triggers automatic penalties, so it pays to have them in the diary, or to have someone keep them for you. We register clients, track every deadline, and file in good time, so nothing is ever a last-minute scramble.

Self Assessment, handled Estimate your tax

Key dates

Self Assessment deadlines

  • Register by 5 October (second tax year)
  • Paper tax return 31 October
  • Online tax return 31 January
  • Pay your tax by 31 January

Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance are worked out through the same return.

Questions

Registering as self-employed, answered

How do I register as self-employed?
Register with HMRC for Self Assessment as a sole trader. Set up a Government Gateway account on GOV.UK, register as self-employed giving your business start date and what you do, then wait for HMRC to post you a 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). You use the UTR to file your first tax return and pay any tax. The whole registration is free and done online.
How much do I need to earn before I register as self-employed?
You must register once your income from self-employment goes over £1,000 in a tax year. This is the trading allowance: if you earn £1,000 or less from self-employment, you generally do not need to register or pay tax on it. Above £1,000 you need to register for Self Assessment, even if your eventual tax bill is small or nil after expenses.
When do I need to register by?
The deadline is 5 October in your business’s second tax year. So if you started self-employment in the 2025/26 tax year (which runs to 5 April 2026), you must register by 5 October 2026. Registering late can mean a failure-to-notify penalty, so it is best to register soon after you start, rather than leaving it.
Do I need to register as self-employed straight away?
Not the moment you start, but do not leave it too long. You can begin trading right away, and you have until 5 October in your second tax year to register. In practice it is easier to register early so your UTR is ready well before the 31 January filing deadline, and so you do not forget. There is no benefit to delaying.
How much does it cost to register as self-employed?
Registering is free. You only pay Income Tax and National Insurance once you are earning above the relevant thresholds, and those are calculated through your Self Assessment return. There is no fee to HMRC to become a sole trader. The only cost is optional, if you choose to have an accountant prepare your return for you.
Will HMRC know about my side hustle?
Increasingly, yes. HMRC receives data from banks, online platforms and marketplaces, and digital platforms now report seller information directly. If your side hustle earns more than £1,000 in a tax year you are required to register and declare it, regardless of whether HMRC has already spotted it. Declaring it properly avoids penalties and is simpler than it sounds.

Register online: Register for Self Assessment, GOV.UK.

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