If you have never done so before, you need to register with HMRC as self-employed. This usually needs to be done by 5 October following the end of the tax year in which you first started being self-employed and is a one-off job. Even though the deadline has passed for 2023/24 to register for self assessment, if you have never done so before you still have to do this as soon as possible in order to obtain your Unique Tax Reference (UTR).
Once registered, you can then prepare and file a tax return. This should normally be done by 31 January 2025 for the 2023/24 tax year, however if you are new to self assessment HMRC will write to you with a ‘notice to file’ which will contain an updated deadline to submit a return following your initial registration.
Any income tax and National Insurance contributions due should be paid by 31 January 2025, and interest will accrue daily on any late payments. You can make a payment before you have submitted a tax return.
You will need to continue filing tax returns and paying any taxes due by 31 January each year for as long as you continue to earn self-employment income.
