Do you need to register with HMRC as self-employed?

If you have started any self-employment work, even part time, in the tax year 2019-20, this needs to be notified to HMRC.

You should have registered with HMRC for this by 5th October 2020. If you have not done this, as long as you make sure you register with HMRC and file a self-assessment tax return and pay any tax due by 31st January 2021, HMRC should not charge you any penalties for this late notification.

You can register online with HMRC, or by calling the HMRC helpline. You can also complete the HMRC form and submit it online or print it off and post it.

If you have already registered for self-assessment to complete returns and have your 10 digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), when you become self-employed you still need to let HMRC know this by the 5th October deadline, but when you are registering you will need to give HMRC this UTR number (there is a space for this on the forms mentioned above).