HMRC warns Christmas side-hustle sellers over tax on festive earnings

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rupert JonesDecember 6, 2025 at 08:00 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

HMRC is reminding individuals in the UK with Christmas side hustles, such as selling crafts or goods online, about tax obligations. Under UK law, individuals can earn up to £1,000 in a tax year from side hustles without paying tax. Those earning over £1,000 between April 6, 2024, and April 5, 2025, must register for self-assessment and file a tax return by January 31, 2026. Christmas sales this year fall into the 2025-26 tax year, with taxes due by January 2027. The "Help for Hustles" campaign emphasizes that selling unwanted personal items is different from taxable trading activities. While a personal allowance exists, and some expenses can be deducted, failure to comply could result in penalties.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

HM Revenue and Customs ×4100% UK ×2100%

Keywords

tax 90% christmas side hustle 90% hmrc 80% trading allowance 70% earnings 70% tax return 60% self-assessment 60% festive earnings 60% tax bill 50% allowable expenses 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

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Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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tax christmas side hustle hmrc trading allowance earnings tax return self-assessment festive earnings tax bill allowable expenses

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