If you're earning money on your own, whether it's walking dogs, doing nails, running a small online shop, you might already be classed as self-employed.

But when do you actually need to tell HMRC?

💡The simple rule

If you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year from self-employment, you need to register with HMRC.

That £1,000 is your turnover - the total income before any expenses.

👀 What counts as self-employment income?

You might need to register if you:

• Sell products online (like through Shopify, Etsy or Instagram)
• Offer a service (dog walking, cleaning, grooming, etc.)
• Work freelance (design, admin, beauty, photography)
• Trade at craft fairs, markets or events
• Have any side hustle alongside a job or other income

If you’re running something as more than just a hobby, even small-scale, you could be classed as self-employed.

⏰ When do I need to register?

You must register by 5th October in your second tax year of trading.

So, if you started earning self-employed income in June 2025, you must register by 5th October 2026.

We always recommend getting it done sooner - it's quick, free, and means you're set up properly.

💰 What if I earned less than £1,000?

If your total income from self-employment was under £1,000 in each tax year you don’t need to register.

(this is called the trading allowance).

But if you had expenses you want to claim (like stock, tools, subscriptions), it might still be worth registering and filing a return, so you don’t miss out on tax relief.

🧾 How to register as self-employed

To register, you’ll need a Government Gateway account. You may already have one — search your inbox for "Government Gateway" to check for a 12-digit ID.

If not, you can set one up during registration.

➡️ Register here on the gov.uk website  

ℹ️ Need help registering?

We’ve helped loads of new sole traders register with HMRC - especially in pet care, creative trades, and side hustles.

If you’d rather we do it with you, we charge a one off fee of just £40.

🙋‍♀️ Got a question?

Send us a Message or WhatsApp — we’re friendly, honest, and here to help with no jargon and no judgment.