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The Daily Insight

Can I be self-employed in the UK and live abroad?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Apr 09, 2026

As long as you pay tax on your wages in your home country, you will not have to pay tax in the UK. You must file a Self Assessment tax return, together with a completed SA109 form. Use the ‘other information’ section of your SA109 to include: confirmation you paid tax on these earnings in another country.

Can I be self-employed in the UK?

You can be both employed and self-employed at the same time, for example if you work for an employer during the day and run your own business in the evenings. You can check whether you’re self-employed: online. by phone.

How do you prove I am self-employed in the UK?

You could choose any of the following:

  1. Personal tax calculation from HMRC.
  2. Self-assessment tax return.
  3. Statement of their self-employed accounts.
  4. Accountant’s letter confirming their self-employed status.

How much can you earn before declaring self-employed UK?

If your income is less than £1,000, you don’t need to declare it. If your income is more than £1,000, you’ll need to register with HMRC and fill in a Self Assessment Tax Return. However, it’s important to remember that if you claim this allowance, you can’t deduct business expenses.

How do I notify HMRC that I am self employed?

Registering as self-employed is fairly straightforward. Head to the government’s online registration portal and enter your email address. Once you’re registered, HMRC will send you a letter with your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR).

How much can I earn without declaring it UK?

The Government’s new Trading Allowance came into effect for the 2016/17 tax year. It means that sole traders with an income of up to than £1000 no longer need to register with HMRC, and can pocket their earnings.

If you’re self-employed, you’re entitled to the same tax-free Personal Allowance as someone who’s employed. For the 2020-21 tax year, the standard Personal Allowance is £12,500. Your personal allowance is how much you can earn before you start paying Income Tax.

Can a self employed person work in the UK?

You are are not carrying out self-employed activities within the UK so the answer to your question is no you are not currently operating correctly for UK taxes – you need to register and declare your SE income in the Country you are Resident.

Do you have to tell HMRC you are self employed?

This means you’re self-employed – even if you haven’t yet told HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). You’re probably self-employed if you: run your business for yourself and take responsibility for its success or failure Many of these also apply if you own a limited company but you’re not classed as self-employed by HMRC.

Who is not a resident of the UK?

A person in question is not a UK citizen but is an EU national who lived in the UK 5 years prior to leaving and intends to live in the UK now he has returned from abroad.

Can you get jobseeker’s allowance if you live in Switzerland?

You might be able to claim UK benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance while you’re living in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Whether you can depends on the agreement between the UK and the country you’re moving to.