Tax for hairdressers and beauticians

Whether you rent a chair, work from home, or go mobile, if you're self-employed in hair or beauty your tax is your own to sort. Here's what you can claim and what you need to file.

Renting a chair or a room usually makes you self-employed rather than employed — which means Self Assessment. If you earned more than £1,000 from it in the tax year, you'll need to file a return, and you'll pay tax on your profit after costs.

Costs you can usually claim

• Chair or room rent you pay to the salon.
• Products and stock — colour, tints, styling products, nails, wax and everything you use or sell.
• Tools and equipment — scissors, clippers, dryers, chairs, beds and lamps — and replacing them.
• Uniform, aprons and PPE (not everyday clothes).
• Insurance and professional memberships.
• Training that keeps your existing skills up to date.
• Travel between clients if you're mobile — 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles, 25p after — plus your booking system and phone.

Making Tax Digital

As Making Tax Digital rolls out from April 2026, those above the income thresholds will keep digital records and send HMRC quarterly updates. We handle all of that so you can stay behind the chair.

This guide is general information, not personal tax advice. Rates and allowances can change at each Budget — always confirm the current figures on GOV.UK or ask us to check your situation.