Self-Employed Tax UK: The Complete Freelancer Tax Guide

Tax Guides · 10 min read · Updated 2026-03-18

Everything self-employed workers and freelancers need to know about tax in the UK, from registering with HMRC to claiming expenses, National Insurance, and filing your tax return.

Written by Krishna, Founder & HMRC-registered tax agent at TaxRoot.

How much can I earn self-employed before paying tax?

You can earn up to £12,570 per year before paying income tax, thanks to the personal allowance. However, if you also have employed income, your personal allowance may already be used against that income. You must still register for Self Assessment if your self-employed income exceeds £1,000, even if your…

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