How do I register as self-employed?
Desiree Weimann
Earnr is the finance and tax companion for the self-employed and side hustlers. We give you more time to run your business. Download Earnr for free on iOS or Android.
If you started working for yourself, then you need to register as self-employed with the HMRC.
The good news:
- The process is easy to follow
- It only needs to be done once
- It covers both income tax and National Insurance contributions (NIC)
Is it your first time registering as self-employed?
- Create a HMRC online account
- You’ll receive a user ID
- At this stage, you can skip out steps 4-10 by using Earnr. Simply select register in the tax section of the app or complete our online form here.
Alternatively, you can log back into the HMRC online account, select “add a tax”, and then “Self Assessment”. Follow steps 4-10.
- Select “Sole Trader” from the options: individual, sole trader, partnership, or trust
- Enter the date you started your self-employment
- Submit more details, including your National Insurance Number
- Describe the work you do: “security guard”, “Uber driver”, “freelance designer”, etc
- Review and click “submit”
- You’ll get a letter with your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number by post
- You’ll also receive another letter within 10 working days with an activation code. You’ll need this code to activate your UTR (you will not need to do this if you register with Earnr)
If you’ve sent a tax return before
The process is similar, but instead you will use the online CWF1 form.
Just use the same UTR number and HMRC login as last time.
If you work in the construction industry (CIS)
HMRC treats subcontractors working in construction (builders, painters, carpenters, etc.) differently.
Let HMRC know if you’re a construction worker and register for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).
After you’ve registered
- Keep track of your invoices and receipts.
- File your Self Assessment tax return by January 31st every year
- Make payments to HMRC twice a year: on January 31st and July 31st
- Pay National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
- Register for VAT if you’re making £85,000 from self-employment
For more details, check out our for self-employed registering for Self Assessment.
You might also want to understand how Payment on Account works — your first tax payment will be 50% larger than you expect.
