HMRC has reminded anyone earning more than £1,000 from additional income during a tax year that they may need to register for Self Assessment. The reminder comes ahead of the 5 October 2026 deadline for new entrants to register for the 2025 to 2026 tax year.
With wedding season underway, the tax authority is specifically calling attention to those earning extra cash from services such as selling wedding stationery, filming the first dance, or cake-making. Anyone whose combined side hustle income exceeds £1,000 in a single tax year must tell HMRC and file a tax return.
Who needs to register
The £1,000 threshold applies to the total income from all side hustles combined. For example, someone earning £600 from wedding photography and £500 from social media posts would need to register, as their total exceeds £1,000. This rule is often referred to as the trading allowance.
If you are starting Self Assessment for the first time, you must register by 5 October 2026. After registration, you will need to file your online tax return and pay any tax due by 31 January 2027.
What counts as taxable side hustle income
Not all extra income is taxable. Selling unwanted personal belongings, such as clearing out a wardrobe, does not usually need to be reported to HMRC. However, regularly selling goods for profit, or providing a service for payment, is likely to count as trading and may need to be declared.
HMRC’s reminder highlights that the threshold covers all trading income combined, not just income from a single activity. This means even small, occasional earnings from different sources can add up to the £1,000 limit.
How to register for Self Assessment
The registration process is online and designed to be straightforward. HMRC says it takes minutes to complete and tells you exactly what you need to do. Once registered, you will receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) which you will need when filing your return.
It is important to register before the 5 October deadline to avoid any potential penalties. Filing your return and paying your tax by 31 January 2027 ensures you meet your obligations on time.
What HMRC says
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."
Hubbard also emphasised the simplicity of the online registration process, saying: "It takes minutes to use, tells you exactly what you need to do and means no unexpected tax bills later."
A trader's perspective
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 registering, she was surprised by how easy it was: "I had my tax return done within the hour. It was so much easier than I thought it would be."
Ms Dickson offered advice for others considering whether they need to register: "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."
Next steps for side hustlers
If you earn more than £1,000 from side hustle activities in the 2025-26 tax year, HMRC advises you to start the registration process as soon as possible. The deadline is 5 October 2026, and the tax return and payment are due by 31 January 2027.
The reminder is part of HMRC's ongoing efforts to help people understand their tax obligations. With the wedding season in full swing, many seasonal workers may be unaware that their extra income pushes them over the threshold.
