Do I Need to Tell HMRC? Your Side Hustle Tax Questions Answered
If you’ve started earning a little extra on the side — from surveys, cashback, affiliate links or even matched betting — you’ve probably had a moment of panic:
“Am I meant to tell HMRC?”
“Is this legal?”
“What if I get it wrong?”
First, take a deep breath — you’re not the only one thinking this.
And second: I made something to help.
But before I share the free guide, let’s walk through a few basics to help you feel more confident about tax and side hustles here in the UK.
What Counts as Side Hustle Income?
HMRC sees side hustle income as any money you earn outside of your regular job — even if it’s casual, irregular, or “just a few quid.”
That includes things like:
Affiliate commissions (like from sharing a product you use)
Survey earnings
Cashback from platforms that pay you directly
Matched betting profits
Handmade goods you sell
Bank switching rewards
If you’re doing something with the intention of making money, chances are, it counts as income.
But here’s where it gets confusing...
What if you’re just selling your old stuff from the loft?
What if you only made £80 last year?
What if you haven’t hit £1,000 yet?
Let’s clear that up.
What Is the Trading Allowance?
In the UK, you can earn up to £1,000 a year in side income before needing to declare it to HMRC. This is called the Trading Allowance.
It’s designed to cover casual income — like one-off eBay sales, small bits of freelance work, or a few survey payouts.
But here’s what trips people up…
Selling personal items at a loss doesn’t count toward the £1,000.
So if you’re decluttering your wardrobe or garage and selling second-hand things for less than you paid, you likely don’t need to report it at all.
When Do You Need to Register with HMRC?
You’ll need to register for Self Assessment if:
You earn more than £1,000 in side income
You regularly sell products or offer services
You make money that’s not taxed at source (like matched betting or affiliate earnings)
And don’t worry — registering doesn’t mean you owe loads of tax.
It just means you’re declaring what you earn and paying tax only on what’s above your allowances.
The Most Common Side Hustle Tax Mistakes
These are the most common things I see (and felt myself!) that stop women from getting started:
“I’ll get in trouble if I earn anything without registering straight away.”
“HMRC is scary and confusing — I’ll probably mess it up.”
“I need to wait until I know everything before I try anything.”
Truth? You don’t. You just need a simple breakdown of what applies to you.
And that’s exactly why I created this:
Free Download: The Side Hustle Tax Guide
This is the guide I wish I’d had — written for women just like us, who want to start side hustling the right way but feel unsure about tax.
Inside you’ll find:
What you do (and don’t) need to declare
Whether you need to register with HMRC
Real-world examples (yes, even matched betting and affiliate links)
The £1,000 Trading Allowance explained simply
Direct links to the right gov. uk pages (so you’re not guessing)
You can download it for free here:
👉 Get the Side Hustle Tax Guide
Want to Know Which Side Hustle to Start With?
If you haven’t already, I’ve also made a free Side Hustle Roadmap that helps you pick your perfect starting point — based on your time, tech comfort, and how fast you want to make money.
👉 Download the Side Hustle Roadmap
And if you’re thinking “I want ongoing support, step-by-step help, and a community doing this with me…”
you can join the waitlist for my low-cost membership here:
👉 Join the Membership Waitlist
If you’ve been overthinking it, you’re not alone. This guide clears the confusion so you can focus on earning.
