Self-Assessment for Uber & Gig Economy

If you're driving for Uber, delivering food, or doing any other gig economy work, you're classified as self-employed—which means you need to register for Self Assessment and file tax returns every year. Uber drivers and gig economy workers in the UK are classified as self-employed and must register for Self Assessment if their gross self-employment income exceeds £1,000 per tax year (gov.uk working for yourself). Gig economy workers must register for Self Assessment by 5 October in their second tax year of self-employment, with tax returns due by 31 January following the end of the tax year. Self-employed drivers have a £1,000 tax-free allowance on self-employment income, with only earnings above this threshold requiring Self Assessment registration and Income Tax.

The problem is most gig economy workers don't realise they need to register for Self Assessment until they get a letter from HMRC, or they struggle with understanding what expenses they can claim, working out how much tax they owe, knowing when to register, and maintaining proper records. That causes problems—missing Self Assessment registration deadlines and penalties, confusion about allowable expenses, incorrect tax calculations, and unexpected tax bills at the end of the year.

We handle Self-Assessment for Uber and gig economy workers across Kent: Self Assessment registration (registering you for Self Assessment if needed, ensuring registration by 5 October deadline), income tracking and reporting (helping you track all income from Uber, delivery apps, and other gig platforms, ensuring everything is reported correctly), expense claims (identifying all allowable business expenses including fuel, vehicle costs, insurance, phone bills, and other business expenses), tax return preparation (completing and filing your Self Assessment return by the 31 January deadline, reporting all income and expenses), tax calculations (calculating Income Tax and National Insurance based on your net profit), and ongoing compliance (annual reviews to ensure returns are filed on time and expenses are maximised). Whether you're an Uber driver in Medway, a food delivery driver in Maidstone, or doing gig work in Canterbury, we'll handle your Self Assessment that works. No missed deadlines, no expense confusion—just proper gig economy tax compliance that keeps you protected.

What this helps you do (fast)

• Register for Self Assessment correctly — We'll ensure you register for Self Assessment if your income exceeds £1,000, meeting the 5 October deadline to avoid late registration penalties. Correct registration protects you from penalties.
• Track all your gig economy income — We'll help you identify and track all income from Uber, delivery apps, and other platforms, ensuring everything is reported. Tracking all income ensures accuracy and compliance.
• Claim all allowable expenses — We'll make sure you claim every legitimate business expense, from fuel and vehicle maintenance to insurance and phone bills. Claiming all expenses reduces your taxable income and saves you money.
• File returns on time — We'll ensure your Self Assessment return is filed by 31 January deadline, avoiding late filing penalties. Timely filing protects you from penalties.
• Minimise your tax bill legally — We'll help you claim all allowable expenses and use the £1,000 tax-free allowance effectively. Minimising tax legally saves you money.
• Stay compliant with platform reporting — We'll ensure your returns match what platforms report to HMRC, avoiding discrepancies and enquiries. Compliance protects you from HMRC issues.

How it works

Step-by-step process for Self-Assessment for Uber & gig economy:

1. Discovery call — We chat about your gig work: what platforms you work for (Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, etc.), how much you earn per week or month, how long you've been doing gig work, whether you've registered for Self Assessment before, what expenses you're already tracking, and what you want to achieve. Understanding your situation helps us determine what needs to be done.
2. Self Assessment registration (if needed) — If you're not already registered, we register you for Self Assessment:
   • Registration requirements — You must register if your gross self-employment income exceeds £1,000 per tax year.
   • Registration deadline — Registration must be completed by 5 October in your second tax year of self-employment (e.g., if you start in August 2025, register before 5 October 2026).
   • Government Gateway account — We help you set up a Government Gateway account and complete self-employment registration.
   • UTR allocation — HMRC will send you a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within 10 days (or 21 days if abroad), which is needed for filing returns.
   Self Assessment registration ensures you can file returns and access HMRC online services.
3. Income tracking and reporting — We help you track and report all gig economy income:
   • Platform income — Income from Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Amazon Flex, and other gig platforms (usually shown on platform dashboards or weekly/monthly statements).
   • Multiple platforms — If you work for multiple platforms, we aggregate all income sources.
   • Income documentation — We help you organise platform statements, payment confirmations, and bank statements showing gig income.
   • Platform reporting — We ensure your reported income matches what platforms report to HMRC (platforms report driver income directly to HMRC from January 2024).
   Income tracking ensures accurate reporting and compliance with platform reporting.
4. Expense identification and claims — We identify all allowable business expenses:
   • Fuel costs — Petrol or diesel costs for business journeys (keep fuel receipts or use fuel card statements).
   • Vehicle maintenance and repairs — Costs of servicing, repairs, MOTs, tyres, and other vehicle maintenance.
   • Vehicle insurance — Insurance premiums for your vehicle used for business.
   • License fees — Costs of obtaining and renewing taxi or private hire licenses.
   • Phone bills — Proportion of mobile phone costs used for business (receiving jobs, navigation, communication with customers).
   • Parking and tolls — Parking fees and toll charges incurred during business operations.
   • Other expenses — Cleaning products, vehicle accessories, protective equipment, and other business-related costs.
   • Capital allowances — For vehicle purchases, you can claim capital allowances (Annual Investment Allowance or Writing Down Allowance) instead of expensing the full cost.
   Expense identification ensures you claim everything you're entitled to.
5. Tax return preparation and filing — We prepare and file your Self Assessment return:
   • SA100 main return — We complete the main Self Assessment form (SA100), declaring all gig economy income.
   • SA103S self-employment pages — We complete the self-employment supplementary pages (SA103S), reporting income and expenses.
   • Tax calculation — We calculate Income Tax and National Insurance based on your net profit (income minus expenses).
   • Filing deadline — We file your return online by 31 January following the end of the tax year (or 31 October for paper returns).
   Return preparation and filing ensures compliance and accurate reporting.
6. Tax payment and ongoing compliance — We coordinate tax payments and ongoing compliance:
   • Payment deadline — Tax is due by 31 January following the end of the tax year, the same date as the filing deadline.
   • Payment methods — We guide you on payment methods (bank transfer, direct debit, cheque) and ensure payment is made on time.
   • Payment on account — If your tax bill is over £1,000, we explain Payments on Account (advance payments for next year's tax) and help you plan for these.
   • Annual reviews — We review your gig economy income and expenses annually to ensure ongoing compliance and expense optimisation.
   Tax payment and ongoing compliance ensures you stay compliant and minimise tax.

We handle all aspects of Self-Assessment for Uber and gig economy workers, from registration to ongoing compliance. The key is tracking all income, claiming all allowable expenses, and ensuring returns are filed and tax is paid on time.

Costs & timelines

Pricing factors:

• Number of platforms — Working for multiple gig platforms (Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, etc.) increases complexity.
• Volume of income and expenses — Higher volumes require more tracking and calculation time.
• Expense complexity — Simple expenses (just fuel) vs. complex expenses (vehicle purchase, capital allowances, multiple expense categories).
• Self Assessment registration — New registration vs. existing Self Assessment filing (adding gig income to existing return).
• Record keeping quality — Well-organised records (platform statements, receipts) make the process faster; poor records require more reconstruction time.

Commonly reported ranges by local providers:

• Simple gig economy return (single platform, minimal expenses): £150–£350 (if already filing Self Assessment)
• Standard gig economy return (multiple platforms, moderate expenses): £250–£500 (including expense claims)
• Complex gig economy return (high volume, complex expenses, vehicle capital allowances): £400–£800+ (including detailed expense analysis)
• Self Assessment registration (one-off, if not already registered): £50–£150
• Annual gig economy return and compliance: £300–£600 per year

Why Self-Assessment for Uber & gig economy costs what it does:

• Specialist knowledge — Understanding gig economy tax rules, allowable expenses, capital allowances, and Self Assessment requirements requires specialist knowledge.
• Income tracking complexity — Tracking income from multiple platforms and ensuring it matches platform reporting to HMRC requires careful attention.
• Expense analysis — Identifying and quantifying allowable expenses (especially vehicle expenses and capital allowances) requires detailed analysis.
• Compliance risk — Ensuring accurate reporting protects you from HMRC enquiries and penalties, especially with platform reporting now in place.

Timeline: Self Assessment registration typically takes 1–2 weeks after HMRC processes the application. Return preparation typically takes 2–4 weeks after we receive all income and expense information, depending on complexity. Returns must be filed by 31 January following the end of the tax year (or 31 October for paper returns). Tax is due by 31 January following the end of the tax year.

Payment: Tax on gig economy income is due by 31 January following the end of the tax year. If your tax bill is over £1,000, you may need to make Payments on Account.

No hidden fees. Our price includes Self Assessment registration (if needed), income tracking support, expense identification, return preparation (SA100 and SA103S), filing, and payment coordination. Annual reviews may be additional depending on your needs.

Kent (UK) focus

For gig economy workers in Kent, whether you're an Uber driver in Medway, a food delivery driver in Maidstone, or doing delivery work in Canterbury, Self Assessment for gig economy income ensures you stay compliant with tax obligations. Many Kent gig workers don't realise they need to register for Self Assessment until they get a letter from HMRC, or they struggle with understanding what expenses they can claim and how to track income from multiple platforms. We help local gig workers register correctly, track all income, claim all allowable expenses, and file returns on time, ensuring they stay compliant while minimising tax. It's worth getting it right—missing Self Assessment registration can result in penalties, and platform reporting means HMRC already knows your income, so accurate reporting is essential.

Common Kent gig economy scenarios:

• Uber drivers — Private hire drivers working for Uber and other ride-hailing platforms, needing to report income and claim vehicle expenses.
• Food delivery drivers — Drivers working for Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, and other food delivery platforms, needing to track income and expenses.
• Multi-platform workers — Gig workers working for multiple platforms simultaneously, needing to aggregate income and expenses.
• Part-time gig workers — Workers combining gig economy income with employment or other self-employment, needing to report all income sources.

Remote-first, Kent-focused. We don't need to meet in person (though we can if you prefer), and we understand what Kent gig workers are dealing with. Self Assessment registration, income tracking, expense claims, return filing—we'll handle your Self Assessment for gig economy income that keeps you compliant and minimises your tax bill.

FAQs