HMRC Guidance on how to Register for Tax Self-Assessment before the Deadline

With 60% of the 5.8 million people working for themselves in the UK having multiple sources of income, there can be confusion over tax status and misunderstanding over what needs to be reported to HMRC. Ahead of the 5 October deadline for telling HMRC that you need to complete a tax return, HMRC has guidance to help you get your tax right. 

Anyone who receives any form of income paid in cash or into a bank account, which has not been taxed, may need to tell HMRC and pay Income Tax through a Self Assessment tax return. 

If you are completing a Self Assessment tax return for the first time to cover the 2024 to 2025 tax year, and have not previously received notice to file, you will need to tell HMRC by the deadline of 5 October 2025. You can do this by registering for Self-Assessment. Guidance and support is available on GOV.UK. 

If you completed a Self Assessment return last year, there is no need to register again. However, if you have recently become self-employed, you need to tell HMRC about your new work or business. 

You may need to do Self Assessment, even if you pay tax through PAYE, if you: 

• are newly self-employed or a sole trader and have earned gross income over £1,000 
• are self-employed and earn below £1,000 and wish to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions voluntarily to protect your entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits 
• are a new partner in a business partnership 
• received any untaxed income including pension income over £2,500 
• received income over £1,000 from trading or providing services online 
• have any gains or income that you received for cryptoassets 
• are claiming Child Benefit and you or your partner had an income above £60,000 for the 2024-25 tax year 
• received interest from banks and building societies or investments (more than £10,000) 
• received income from property that you own and rent out 
• received dividends payments (more than £10,000) 
• need to pay non-property related Capital Gains Tax 
• Claim tax relief for your job expenses if more than £2,500 · need to pay Capital Gains Tax 

Click here to use this free online tool which helps you to check whether you need to submit a Self Assessment tax return. 

If you already do Self Assessment and are currently, or starting, working for yourself, you also need to register as a sole trader with HMRC. 

Once you are registered, HMRC issues you a notice to file your Self Assessment tax return, which you can do anytime but the deadline is 31 January 2026. There are benefits to filing early. 

If you no longer need to complete a tax return because you have stopped being self-employed, it’s important you tell HMRC as soon as possible or before 31 January 2026. Otherwise, HMRC will think you’re late with your tax return and may issue a penalty. Find out how do this this on GOV.UK. 

Don’t assume someone else will update HMRC, please do this yourself.