Skip to main content

Why following the tax rules for side hustles matters

It matters for vital public services

HMRC is the UK’s tax collector. We bring in the money that pays for everything from hospitals and schools, to roads and other essential infrastructure.

How do we know if everyone is paying the right tax?

HMRC uses various third-party data sources to help identify where tax might not have been paid.

For example, online platforms must now share certain information with HMRC.

Find out more about selling goods or services on a digital platform on GOV.UK 

As your side hustle grows, any unpaid tax might come under the spotlight

This could lead to an unexpected and possibly very large tax bill if you haven’t told us about the extra money you’ve been earning. 

That’s why it’s really important to stay on top of your tax affairs. So, make sure you pay what you owe as soon as you can and talk to us as soon as possible if you haven’t paid for previous tax years.  

Find out what you need to do if you have not told HMRC about income.  

We’re here to help you get on the right track with tax and avoid any penalties

Our support services can help find a manageable way to help get your tax affairs sorted out. For example, if you cannot pay your tax bill in full, we may be able to set up a payment plan and pay it in instalments. This is called a Time to Pay arrangement.

We will always work to resolve any issues and find a solution.

Use our online checker tool

The first step in getting your tax right is to check if you need to tell HMRC about your side hustle on GOV.UK

Help and support

If you need more support, ask HMRC online. We also offer extra support if you have a health condition or personal circumstances that make it difficult to contact HMRC.

Tell us what you think

We  want to hear your views about this website to help us improve it.

This survey will take around 5 minutes.

Responses are anonymous – you won’t be asked to provide any personal information that will identify you.