Register as a self-employed, freelancer in the UK

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When do I need to register as self-employed?

Any person or individual who decides to start his own practice or business is referred to as a sole trader or self-employed individual. The first of these is to register as self-employed with HMRC and, most likely, Set up as a sole trader or freelancer. The business can enroll with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) anytime up to October 5, starting from the business’ second tax year. If the business is already registered, a sole trader can use the online service to:

fill and send tax returns to HMRC
review and verify the tax return

Register as self-employed with HMRC online

If a self-employed individual is using the online service for the first time, they need to sign-in at the Government Gateway account or can use the GOV.UK verify. It will take approximately ten (10) minutes to sign up for the GOV.UK verification and once this is done, it can be used for other government services. However, this service cannot be used to purchase other software or forms to send self assessment returns for a:

Trust and estate
Partnership
A person living overseas as a non-resident

Various ways to setting up as a sole trader

not as a self-employed individual
as a self-employed person or a sole trader
register as a partner (s) or partnerships

How to register as self employment in the UK with HMRC

Information required to set up as self-employed in the UK

Upon registration, a sole trader needs to provide the following information:

Business name
Business address
National Insurance (NI) number
Birthdate
Contact details including telephone, and email address

Type of business
Beginning date of self-employment
Sole trader’s Unique Tax Reference (UTR)
Business UTR
If applicable, details about business partners

Register as self-employed UTR

A self-employed individual can register for self assessment and Class 2 National Insurance (NI) immediately after opening a business. To register, a sole trader needs a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), a 10-digit number. The UTR can be found on prior tax returns or other HMRC documents, such as notices to file returns or payment reminders. If the UTR is lost, a sole trader will automatically be sent a UTR when he/she registers for self assessment or at the time of setting up a limited company. This 10-digit number, at times, can have a letter “K” at the end. It may be called a tax reference. A sole trader can also call the self assessment helpline and ask for the UTR.

Register as self-employed for national insurance and tax

The major advantage of working as a sole trader or a self employed individual is the ease of operating and managing the business. Once an individual starts operating as a sole trader or through a business partnership, he/she becomes accountable for paying the income tax and National Insurance (NI) on their own or through a small business accounting and taxation consultant like dns accountants. The business can register with HMRC anytime up to 5 October, from the second tax year of the business. A tax year is from 6 April to 5 April. For example, if an individual starts a new business as a self-employed or a sole trader in March, the individual must register until 5 October. However, if the first self-employment work is undertaken in May 2023, an individual needs to register as a sole trader with HMRC until 5 October 2024.

Also, once an individual starts operating as a sole trader or self-employed, it becomes imperative to complete a self-assessment tax return every year and pay the National insurance (NI) contribution. Registering with the HMRC is a fairly simple process and there is very little paperwork involved and a sole trader does not have to pay any company formation cost. However, a sole trader needs to formally register with HMRC, and assume responsibility to pay his/her income tax and National Insurance liabilities.

Also, as a sole trader, the business owner needs to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions (NIC) on the income. For the tax year 2023-2024, the NIC is £3.45 a week. But, if the business has a profit of less than £6,725 a year for the tax year 2023-2024, the business is not required to make these NI contributions. For the tax year 2023-2024, 9% of the annual profit ranging between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% of the profit above £50,000 must be paid as Class 4 National Insurance contributions.

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HMRC self-employed tax return

Date of tax return to be filed	Deadline for paper return	Deadline for return when HMRC will calculate tax	Deadline for return online
On or before 31 July	31 October	31 October	31 January
1 – 31 August	3 months from date of notice	31 October	31 January
September to 31 October	3 months from date of notice	2 months from date of notice	31 January
After 31 October	3 months from date of notice	2 months from date of notice	3 months from date of notice

Register as self-employed form

Self employment registration form can be accessed by clicking here.

HMRC self-employed helpline

If an individual decides to work for oneself or if someone is operating as a sole trader, he/she can even speak to the HMRC if they need any guidance for various processes. The helpline can provide the following information on self-employment:

Registering for a new business
Filing a tax return
Claiming a NI refund
Construction Industry Scheme and many more

Need help to register as a self-employed in the UK

dns accountants is a skillful team of accounting and taxation professionals that helps clients with services ranging from registering as self employed to business set-up. The firm helps owners manage small businesses and private individuals across the United Kingdom. dns is an acknowledged firm of ACA’s or Chartered Accountants (CA) and the firm takes pride in saying that we are very helpful to our clients & deliver unparalleled client service and persistently help clients to handle their wealth. The firm’s learned team focuses on helping sole traders with business registration, tax filings, and other services such as self-assessment, payroll management, and bookkeeping. At dns, we are constantly in touch with our clients and offer

Fixed price service
Consistent and transparent service
Certainty on tax base and taxation advisory

Other services

dns accountants offers taxation & accounting services to owner-managed-businesses or self employed individuals/freelancers/contractors. For business owners and freelancers/contractors, it is difficult to keep pace with the ever-changing government regulations and rules. Our expert team of chartered accountants and tax professionals help clients in services ranging from bookkeeping to payroll to tax planning, and filing tax returns. dns accountants in Harrow help clients focus on maximizing their wealth.

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Get the best advice on tax savings, accounting services, payroll, self assessment, VATand more,whether you want to call us directly, request a call back or chat online with ourexperts, restassured that we will always give you the best advice.If you have any questions, or wouldlike tospeak to us in person, please do get in touch. We're here to help.

Head Office:

dns accountants
DNS House, 382 Kenton Road,
Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 8DP

Contact Number:

0333 060 2437

Email:

[email protected]

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Register as a self-employed, freelancer in the UK - dns accountants (2024)

Here’s what our clients say

Here’s what our clients say

Here’s what our clients say

Here’s what our clients say

Here’s what our clients say

Here’s what our clients say