I've been doing some weekend work delivering for a courier service on top of my regular job. It's making decent money but I'm not sure how to declare it properly or if I need to register for anything with HMRC. Do I need to file a self-assessment return?
Double-check your exact earnings first because that £1,000 threshold is real and easy to mess up - sounds like you're probably over it if it's "decent money" from regular weekend shifts. I had a mate doing similar courier work a few years back who tried to skip registering because he thought it'd be minimal, then got flagged by HMRC and ended up owing back taxes plus penalties, so don't take the risk. Register as self-employed soon as possible, keep every receipt and mileage log you can get your hands on (fuel, vehicle maintenance, phone bills for work calls - all deductible), and file your self-assessment return by January 31st each tax year. The registration itself is straightforward online but waiting until the last minute creates stress, so sort it out now.
You'll need to register with HMRC as self-employed if you're making a profit, and then file a self-assessment return each year to declare that courier income - the threshold is pretty low, so it's worth doing it properly rather than waiting to get caught. Talk to HMRC directly or grab their guidance on self-employment, because tax rules shift and what applies to you specifically depends on your exact earnings and whether the courier service counts you as employed or genuinely self-employed (some gig work is legally employment even if it feels like a side hustle).
Are you making more than £1,000 a year from the courier work? If so, yeah, you do need to register as self-employed with HMRC and file a self-assessment return. The earlier answer's right on that front, but worth clarifying - you don't register *if* you're making a profit; you register once your turnover hits that £1,000 threshold, regardless. Beyond registration, keep records of everything (mileage, fuel, any equipment costs) because you can offset those against your earnings, which lowers what you actually owe tax on. The self-assessment deadline is usually January 31st after the tax year ends.
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