Going self-employed? How to register with HMRC
Starting to work for yourself is exciting — and the admin is smaller than you think. There's really just one first step with HMRC, and here's exactly how it works.
If you're working for yourself as a sole trader and expect to earn more than £1,000 in a tax year, you need to tell HMRC. That "£1,000" is the trading allowance — earn less than that from self-employment and you generally don't need to register at all.
When to register
The deadline is 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started. So if you began working for yourself during the year to 5 April 2026, you'd need to register by 5 October 2026. In practice, sooner is better — leaving it late is the most common way people trip up.
What you'll get set up
Registering as self-employed does two things at once: it puts you into Self Assessment (so you'll file a return), and it sets you up for National Insurance as a sole trader. You can register online through GOV.UK; you'll need basic details like your National Insurance number and the date you started trading.
The National Insurance side
As a self-employed person you may pay Class 4 National Insurance — 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that. Class 2 National Insurance no longer has to be paid separately if your profits are above the small profits threshold, but you still build up your State Pension entitlement. It's all worked out through your tax return — nothing extra to set up.
Keep it simple from day one
Two habits make everything easier later: keep your business money separate where you can, and snap a photo of every receipt. Do that, and your first return is mostly a matter of adding it up — which is the part we take off your hands.
Just gone self-employed? We'll set you straight.
From registering to your first return, we handle the lot — from £25 a month.
See pricing →Related guides
- Tax for your trade — what to claim once you're registered
- How much tax will I pay? — with a plain worked example
- Self Assessment deadlines — register, file, pay
This guide is general information, not personal tax advice. Rules and thresholds can change — always confirm the current position on GOV.UK or ask us to check your situation.
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