Side Hustle Income Over £1,000? Register by 5 October
HMRC is reminding people with side hustle income to check whether they need to register for Self Assessment, with the 5 October deadline for 2025/26 approaching.
HMRC has issued a fresh reminder to people earning money from side hustles — from wedding suppliers and content creators to weekend market traders — to check whether they need to register for Self Assessment and declare that income.
The reminder is part of HMRC's ongoing "Tax Help for Hustles" campaign. According to HMRC, around one in ten people in the UK earn some form of extra income, and roughly 65% of those are unaware they may have tax obligations.
Key Points
- You generally need to register for Self Assessment if your total side hustle income is over £1,000 in a tax year. This threshold covers all your trading activities combined.
- For income earned in the 2025/26 tax year (6 April 2025 – 5 April 2026), the deadline to register is 5 October 2026.
- The tax return itself is then due by 31 January 2027.
- Selling personal belongings you no longer need is not usually taxable. Regular selling or making things to sell for profit is.
What to Do
- Use HMRC's free Check if you need to send a Self Assessment tax return tool — it takes a few minutes.
- If you're over the £1,000 threshold, register before 5 October 2026 so you have time to file.
- Keep records of your income and any expenses as you go.
Related Guides
Information accurate as of 21 July 2026. Verify current details on GOV.UK.
Official Sources
self-assessmentallowance