How Do I Register as Self-Employed? Step-by-Step With HMRC

Introduction

If you're starting out as a freelancer, contractor, tradesperson or small business owner, one of the first steps is registering as self-employed with HMRC. The good news? The process is far simpler than many people expect.

In this guide, we walk you through:

when you must register
how to complete the online form
key documents you’ll need
common mistakes to avoid
what happens after you register

Once you're registered, you’ll be ready to complete your annual Self Assessment tax return using a digital tool like QTax.
See exactly how our process works in the Product Tour.

When You Must Register as Self-Employed

The £1,000 trading rule

You must register as self-employed if you earn more than £1,000 from self-employment in a single tax year. This applies whether self-employment is:

full-time
part-time
occasional
on top of a full-time job

If your total self-employed income stays below £1,000 per year, the trading allowance covers you — but as soon as you exceed it, you must register.

What counts as self-employment?

HMRC considers you self-employed if you:

work for yourself
invoice clients directly
control how and when you work
take on financial risk in your work
run your own small business or trade

This applies to tradespeople, creatives, tutors, delivery couriers, consultants, hairdressers, online sellers and many other professions.

Deadline to register

You must register by 5 October following the end of the tax year when you started trading.

Example:

You started trading: June 2024
Deadline to register: 5 October 2025

For more details, see our Guide to Self-Employed Tax Deadlines.

How to Register as Self-Employed (Step-by-Step)

Step 1 — Create a Government Gateway account

If you don’t already have one:

Go to HMRC’s sign-up page
Enter your personal details (name, date of birth, NI number)
Set up 2-factor authentication

This login is used for all future tax activity.

Step 2 — Start the online registration for Self Assessment

Once logged in:

Select “Register for Self Assessment”
Choose “I am self-employed and need to fill in a tax return”
Provide:
- Your business name (if you have one)
- The type of work you do
- The date you started trading
- Your address and contact details

This step usually takes less than 10 minutes.

Step 3 — HMRC sends your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference)

After completing registration, HMRC will send you a 10-digit UTR by post.

You’ll need this number every year to file your Self Assessment.

Keep it safe — you will use it often.

Step 4 — Activate your account

Alongside your UTR, HMRC sends an activation code.

Use this to finish setting up your account so you can file your tax return online.

Your setup is now complete — you officially count as a self-employed individual for tax purposes.

What Happens After You Register

HMRC confirmation

Once registered, HMRC will:

confirm your self-employed status
confirm your UTR
provide instructions for filing your first tax return

When you file your first Self Assessment

You will file your first return after the end of the tax year in which you began trading.

Example:

Start trading: August 2024
First tax return due: 31 January 2026
(for the 2024–25 tax year)

Records you need to keep

From the moment you begin trading, keep basic records of:

income received
business expenses
mileage
invoices

Our Guide to Record Keeping for Sole Traders explains this in detail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Registering

Registering too late

Missing the 5 October deadline can lead to HMRC penalties — especially if your return ends up late as well.

Choosing the wrong business start date

Your start date is the day you first began trading —
not the day you set up a website, ordered business cards, or thought about freelancing.

Not keeping simple records from day one

Even a notebook or simple spreadsheet works fine to begin with.

Later, QTax will help you organise the information you need for your Self Assessment.
See how simple the process is in the Product Tour.

How QTax Helps After You Register

Once you’re registered, QTax makes it easier to:

✔ Understand what you need to include in your return

QTax explains income, expenses and tax basics in plain English.

✔ Avoid common mistakes

Smart checks flag inconsistencies and missing information.

✔ File digitally through HMRC-recognised software

QTax supports MTD-compatible online submission.

✔ Prepare early

You can start your return well before the January deadline.

Learn more on our Pricing page.

FAQs

Do I need a business bank account before registering?

No. You can register with your personal account.
(Though a business account makes bookkeeping easier later.)

How long does it take to get my UTR?

Around 7–10 days, sometimes a little longer during busy periods.

Do I need an accountant to register?

No — the registration process is simple, free, and takes only a few minutes.

What if I had self-employed income last year and didn’t register?

Conclusion

Registering as self-employed with HMRC is straightforward and only takes a few minutes online. Once you’re set up, you’ll be ready to file your Self Assessment each year using a simple, sole-trader-friendly tool like QTax.

If you want a clear, stress-free way to handle your tax return, QTax is designed with you in mind.

Ready to file your Self Assessment the easy way?

Start your 30-day free trial with QTax.

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