HMRC issues £1,000 tax warning to a number of workers ahead of deadline

Britons earning extra income through a side hustle are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check whether they need to register for Self Assessment before the October 5 deadline.

The tax authority has reminded people that anyone earning more than £1,000 from additional income during a tax year may need to register for Self Assessment.

HMRC said the warning is particularly relevant for people taking on seasonal work, including wedding photography, content creation and fitness instruction.

The department is encouraging taxpayers to check their obligations early to avoid unexpected tax bills or penalties.

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The reminder comes during the peak wedding season, when many people take on freelance work to supplement their income.

HMRC said the £1,000 trading allowance applies to a person's combined side hustle income rather than each activity separately.

For example, someone who earns £600 from wedding photography and £500 from sponsored social media content would receive total side hustle income of £1,100.

In that situation, they may need to register for Self Assessment.

Kevin Hubbard, HMRC's director of small business and individuals, said: "For many people, a side hustle is a valuable source of extra income."

He added: "If you're earning more than £1,000 a year from your side hustle it's important to understand your tax responsibilities, and HMRC wants to make that as straightforward as possible."

Mr Hubbard encouraged people to use HMRC's online checker.

He said: "It takes minutes to use, tells you exactly what you need to do and means no unexpected tax bills later."

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The guidance applies to wedding photographers and videographers, cake makers, people selling handmade goods, social media influencers, fitness instructors, delivery drivers and anyone providing paid services alongside their main job.

The department also clarified the difference between trading and selling unwanted personal possessions.

Selling unwanted clothes or household items as part of a clear-out does not normally need to be reported for tax purposes.

However, regularly buying, making or selling items with the intention of making a profit is more likely to be considered trading.

Anyone who needs to submit a Self Assessment tax return for the 2025-26 tax year must register by October 5, 2026.

Online tax returns must then be submitted, and any tax owed paid, by January 31, 2027.

Lianna Dickson, a wedding content creator, said she realised she needed to register after her business began attracting regular bookings.

She said: "As soon as I started booking in a number of weddings I knew this was going to be a decent amount of extra money."

After checking HMRC's online guidance, Ms Dickson found she had exceeded the £1,000 trading allowance.

She said: "I had my tax return done within the hour. It was so much easier than I thought it would be."

She encouraged others turning a hobby into a business to keep accurate records of their income.

Ms Dickson said: "Just keep track of everything and speak to someone who understands the process - or look up videos of someone explaining it if you struggle with just reading things."

HMRC said its research suggests around one in 10 people across the UK participate in the hidden economy.

The department also found that 65 per cent of those people were largely unaware they may need to register for tax.

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