HMRC alerts UK workers and sole traders of upcoming tax deadlines

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reminded UK taxpayers that anyone earning more than £1,000 from a side‑hustle must register for Self‑Assessment before the October 5 deadline. The guidance applies to combined income from activities such as wedding photography, content creation, fitness instruction and other freelance work, and HMRC advises using its online checker to avoid unexpected tax bills.

In a separate warning, HMRC told more than 864,000 sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 that they must submit their first quarterly Making Tax Digital (MTD) Income Tax update by August 7 2026. The update, filed through approved software, is a short digital summary of income and expenses, not a full Self‑Assessment tax return. HMRC highlighted that the process can be completed in minutes and included examples of users who found it straightforward.