Coming to work in the UK
In this section:
- Documents you need before you can work in the UK
- Paying UK tax and National Insurance – an introduction
- Working for someone else (employed)
- Working for yourself (self-employed)
- Working in the construction (building) industry
- Tax on income and gains outside the UK
- Financial help if you are on a low wage or have children
- The National Minimum Wage
Working for yourself (self-employed)
If you work for yourself in the UK, or set up your own business in the UK, you are ‘self-employed’. You must register with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as self-employed and pay your own tax and National Insurance.
On this page:
Registering as self-employed
The easiest way to register is to phone the Newly Self-Employed Helpline on Tel 0845 915 4515. Lines are open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, and 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Saturday and Sunday, closed on bank holidays.
Or you can fill in form CWF1 Becoming self-employed and registering for National Insurance contributions and/or tax. You can get this form online by following the link below.
Get form CWF1 Becoming self-employed and registering for National Insurance contributions and/or tax
How to pay tax and National Insurance
If you work for yourself you pay Income Tax by filling in a form called a Self Assessment tax return once a year to tell us what you have earned.
You usually pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions to HMRC directly and Class 4 National Insurance contributions through Self Assessment by completing your tax return.
There are different types of tax return forms. If you are self-employed you always complete:
- the main tax return forms SA100 and SA101
- the self-employment pages SA103S or SA103F (which one you complete depends on how much money you earn)
You may also have to fill in some other pages, depending on your situation. HMRC uses the information on your tax return to work out your tax bill, or you can work it out yourself.
It is very important to keep records of what you have earned and what you have spent. HMRC might ask to see these records.
The easiest way to fill out a tax return is online because your tax is worked out for you automatically. You can find out more about Self Assessment and the benefits of completing your tax return online by following the links below.
Find out more about tax returns if you’re self-employed
File your tax return online - more about the benefits and how to register
Or you can phone the Self Assessment Helpline on Tel 0845 900 0444. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
VAT
VAT is a tax charged on goods and some services imported into the UK. This tax is paid to HMRC.
If you are self-employed and you earn above a certain amount during the tax year (6 April to 5 April) you have to register for VAT.
You can also choose to register for VAT even if your self-employment income is low.
If you register for VAT you can also get back any VAT you pay on goods or services you buy for your business.
You can find out more about VAT, and how to register, by following the link below.
VAT - how it works, the different rates, who needs to be registered and links to further information
Or you can phone the National Advice Service Helpline on Tel 0845 010 9000 (+ 44 292 050 1261 from outside the UK). Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Leaving the UK
If you're leaving the UK you must tell HMRC by contacting your Tax Office (see the link below).
Your Tax Office will give you form P85 to get any tax refund you're owed and work out if you'll become non-resident. If you still need to complete a tax return after you leave they'll let you know.
