HMRC Authorised Agent

Register as Self-Employed
with HMRC — From £24 + VAT

Tax2u's HMRC-authorised accountants handle your entire Self Assessment registration — so you never have to call HMRC or log in to Government Gateway. Submit your details in 5 minutes and we do the rest.

Trustpilot ★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 Excellent Based on 8,000+ reviews

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From £24 + VAT

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8,000+ registered

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HMRC Authorised

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Submitted in 24h

HMRC submission within 24 hours Interim confirmation letter UTR number by post in 2–3 weeks 5 October deadline specialists

⭐ 4.9/5 on Trustpilot

✅ HMRC Authorised Agent

📅 5 October Deadline Specialists

⚡ Submitted within 24 hours

📮 UTR by post in 2–3 weeks

🔒 GDPR-compliant

Am I Self-Employed?

Do You Need to Register as Self-Employed?

HMRC requires you to register as self-employed and file a Self Assessment tax return if you earn income outside PAYE. You must register by 5 October after the end of your first self-employed tax year — or face an automatic £100 penalty.

5 OctHMRC registration deadline each year

£100Automatic penalty for missing the deadline

£1,000Trading allowance before registration is required

24hTax2u typical HMRC submission time

👷 Who Must Register

You must register if you're a sole trader, freelancer, CIS subcontractor, online seller, landlord receiving rental income, or Uber/delivery driver earning over £1,000 in a tax year. HMRC also requires registration if you have any untaxed income — including savings interest above your Personal Savings Allowance.

💼 What Counts as Self-Employment

You are self-employed if you decide your own working hours, invoice clients directly, supply your own equipment, or take on profit and risk yourself. This covers freelancers and consultants, sole traders with a business name, and anyone earning outside a standard PAYE contract — even as a second income.

📄 Self Assessment vs UTR Number

Registering as self-employed means enrolling in HMRC's Self Assessment system. Your UTR number (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is the 10-digit reference HMRC issues automatically once your registration is approved — you cannot file a Self Assessment return without it. Tax2u completes both in a single submission.

📬 What Happens After Registration

Once HMRC processes your registration, they post your UTR number to your home address within 2–3 weeks. You'll also receive a notice to file a Self Assessment return by 31 January each year. Tax2u sends you an interim confirmation so you have proof of your registration date while you wait for the HMRC letter.

HMRC Penalties

What Happens If You Register Late?

Missing HMRC's self-employment registration deadline triggers automatic penalties that increase the longer you leave it. Even if you owe no tax, the fines still apply.

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Registration Deadline: 5 October

If you first became self-employed in the 2024–25 tax year (6 April 2024 – 5 April 2025), you must register with HMRC by 5 October 2025. Registering with Tax2u today means your submission reaches HMRC within 24 hours — well ahead of the deadline.

Day 1 late £100 Automatic fixed penalty for missing the 5 October registration deadline, regardless of tax owed

3 months late £10/day Daily penalties begin after 3 months, up to a maximum of 90 days (£900 additional)

6 months late 5% tax A further penalty of 5% of any unpaid tax — or £300 if greater — is added at 6 months

12 months late 5%+ more Another 5% of unpaid tax (or £300 minimum) at 12 months — plus potential fraud surcharges of up to 100%

Getting Started

What You Need to Register

Tax2u collects everything through a secure online form — no uploads, no post, no calling HMRC. Have the items below to hand and you can complete your application in under 5 minutes.

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National Insurance (NI) NumberFound on your payslip, P60, or any HMRC letter. It follows the format QQ 12 34 56 A. HMRC uses this to link your self-employment record to your NI contributions.

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Business Start DateThe date you first began trading or earning self-employed income. This sets your first tax year and determines which deadlines apply to you.

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Home AddressHMRC posts your UTR number to your home address. Make sure it's correct — your UTR letter cannot be re-sent electronically and must be delivered by Royal Mail.

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Photo IDA passport or driving licence. Tax2u uses this to verify your identity before submitting your application to HMRC as an authorised agent.

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Proof of AddressA utility bill, bank statement, or council tax letter dated within the last 3 months. Confirms your address for HMRC's records.

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Submitted to HMRC within 24 hours

Once Tax2u receives your documents, our accountants review and submit your Self Assessment registration to HMRC via the agent portal — typically within the same working day.

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Interim confirmation while you wait

HMRC takes 2–3 weeks to post your UTR number. Tax2u sends you a dated confirmation letter immediately after submission, so you have proof of your registration date straight away.

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No Government Gateway account needed

As an HMRC-authorised agent, Tax2u submits your registration directly through the agent portal. You never need to create a Government Gateway account or navigate HMRC's online system yourself.

The Process

How Tax2u Registers You as Self-Employed

Three simple steps — completed entirely online. No phone calls, no paperwork to post, no HMRC queues.

Submit Your Details Online

Fill in Tax2u's secure online form with your personal details, NI number, and business start date. Upload a photo ID and proof of address — the whole process takes around 5 minutes. No Government Gateway account required.

We Submit to HMRC Within 24 Hours

A Tax2u accountant reviews your application and submits it to HMRC via the authorised agent portal. You receive an email confirmation with a reference number and a dated interim letter as proof of your registration date.

Receive Your UTR by Post

HMRC processes your registration and posts your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) letter to your home address within 2–3 weeks. Your Tax2u account stores your UTR securely — you can access it any time in your client dashboard.

Why Tax2u?

Tax2u vs Registering Directly with HMRC

You can register yourself through HMRC's website — but it takes longer, requires a Government Gateway account, and offers no support if something goes wrong. Here's how the two compare.

Tax2u vs Registering Directly with HMRC

What you get	Tax2u — From £24+VAT	HMRC Direct (Free)
Government Gateway account needed	✓ Not required — we handle it	✗ You must create one
Submission speed	Within 24 hours of receiving your details	2–10 working days after you submit
Interim confirmation letter	✓ Sent immediately after submission	✗ Not available
Error checking by a qualified accountant	✓ Reviewed before submission	✗ No check — errors go directly to HMRC
Dedicated support if HMRC queries arise	✓ Tax2u handles HMRC correspondence	✗ You deal with HMRC directly
UTR stored in a secure client dashboard	✓ Accessible any time	✗ Only on the HMRC letter by post

Trustpilot Reviews

What Our Clients Say

Over 8,000 people have used Tax2u to register as self-employed. Here's what a few of them told us.

★★★★★

"Sorted my self-employed registration in less than a day. I'd been putting it off for months because HMRC's website looked complicated — Tax2u made it completely painless. Got my UTR letter three weeks later exactly as promised."

Mohammed A.

Sole Trader — Electrical Contractor

★★★★★

"I started freelancing as a graphic designer and had no idea about the 5 October deadline until I googled it two weeks before. Tax2u submitted my registration the same afternoon I filled in the form. Stress-free and very professional."

Priya S.

Freelancer — Graphic Design

★★★★★

"As a CIS subcontractor I needed my UTR quickly for a new contract. Tax2u submitted everything to HMRC within a few hours and sent me a confirmation letter I could show my contractor right away. Brilliant service."

Daniel W.

CIS Subcontractor — Plastering

Common Questions

Self-Employed Registration — FAQs

Answers to the questions we hear most often. Can't find what you're looking for? Call our team or use the live chat.

When do I need to register as self-employed with HMRC? ▾

You must register with HMRC by 5 October following the end of the tax year in which you first became self-employed. For example, if you started freelancing in September 2024 (tax year 2024–25, which ends 5 April 2025), your registration deadline is 5 October 2025. Missing this date triggers an automatic £100 fixed penalty from HMRC, even if you have no tax to pay.

Do I need to register as self-employed if I also have a PAYE job? ▾

Yes. If you earn self-employed income on top of a PAYE salary — for example as a weekend freelancer or online seller — you must still register for Self Assessment and declare both income streams to HMRC. Your employer handles tax on your employed income through PAYE; your self-employed income is reported separately on your Self Assessment tax return.

What is the £1,000 trading allowance and does it affect registration? ▾

The £1,000 trading allowance means you can earn up to £1,000 of self-employed or casual income in a tax year without paying tax or National Insurance on it — and in most cases without needing to register. However, if your gross self-employed income exceeds £1,000, registration is required. CIS subcontractors must register regardless of their income, as their contractor needs a UTR to process deductions correctly.

How long does it take to get a UTR number after registering? ▾

After Tax2u submits your registration to HMRC (within 24 hours of receiving your details), HMRC typically processes the application and posts your UTR number within 2–3 weeks. Tax2u sends you an interim confirmation letter immediately after submission, which includes the date and reference number of your HMRC registration — useful for CIS contractors or anyone who needs proof of registration before the UTR letter arrives.

What is the difference between a sole trader and a limited company? ▾

A sole trader is the simplest way to be self-employed — you register with HMRC, file a Self Assessment return each year, and pay Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on your profits. There is no registration with Companies House. A limited company is a separate legal entity, incorporated at Companies House, with its own tax obligations (Corporation Tax). Tax2u's self-employed registration service covers sole trader and CIS registration; contact us separately if you need limited company formation.

Register as Self-Employed Today

Join 8,000+ sole traders, freelancers and CIS subcontractors who've trusted Tax2u to handle their HMRC registration. From £24 + VAT — submitted within 24 hours.

Get Started — £24 + VAT

5-minute online form · No Government Gateway account needed · UTR by post in 2–3 weeks

Register as Self-Employedwith HMRC — From £24 + VAT

Tax2u's HMRC-authorised accountants handle your entire Self Assessment registration — so you never have to call HMRC or log in to Government Gateway. Submit your details in 5 minutes and we do the rest.

Do You Need to Register as Self-Employed?

What Happens If You Register Late?

What You Need to Register

How Tax2u Registers You as Self-Employed

Tax2u vs Registering Directly with HMRC

Tax2u vs Registering Directly with HMRC

What Our Clients Say

Self-Employed Registration — FAQs

Register as Self-Employed Today

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Register as Self-Employed
with HMRC — From £24 + VAT