The Trading Allowance is a £1,000 tax-free allowance for self-employment and casual trading income. If your gross income from self-employment is £1,000 or less per tax year, you don't need to pay tax on it or register for Self Assessment. Above £1,000, you can choose to deduct the allowance instead of claiming actual expenses.
This guide explains who can use the Trading Allowance, how it works, and when claiming expenses is better.
What is the Trading Allowance?
The Trading Allowance was introduced in April 2017 to simplify tax for people with small amounts of self-employment or casual income.
| Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | Amount | £1,000 per tax year | | Who can use it | Individuals with trading income | | Effect | Tax-free income up to £1,000 | | Registration | Not required if income ≤ £1,000 |
What Counts as Trading Income?
| Included | Not Included | |----------|--------------| | Freelance work | Employment (PAYE) income | | Selling goods you make | Selling personal possessions | | Casual services | Rental income (use Property Allowance) | | Gig economy work | Investment income | | Online selling (if trading) | Gifts |
How the Trading Allowance Works
Scenario 1: Income £1,000 or Less
If your total trading income is £1,000 or less:
- Tax due: £0
- Registration required: No
- Report to HMRC: No
You simply don't declare it. The allowance covers your entire income.
Example: You earn £800 from occasional babysitting.
- Trading income: £800
- Trading Allowance: £1,000
- Taxable: £0
- Action: Nothing required
Scenario 2: Income Over £1,000
If your trading income exceeds £1,000, you have two options:
Option A: Use the Trading Allowance
- Deduct £1,000 from your income
- Pay tax on the remainder
- Cannot claim any expenses
Option B: Claim Actual Expenses
- Report full income
- Deduct actual business expenses
- Pay tax on the profit
Choose whichever gives lower taxable income.
Comparison Example
Sarah earns £3,000 from selling crafts online.
| Method | Calculation | Taxable Income | |--------|-------------|----------------| | Option A: Trading Allowance | £3,000 − £1,000 = £2,000 | £2,000 | | Option B: Actual Expenses (£1,500 in materials, fees) | £3,000 − £1,500 = £1,500 | £1,500 |
Best choice: Actual expenses (£500 lower taxable income)
Tom earns £2,500 from odd jobs.
| Method | Calculation | Taxable Income | |--------|-------------|----------------| | Option A: Trading Allowance | £2,500 − £1,000 = £1,500 | £1,500 | | Option B: Actual Expenses (£400 in travel) | £2,500 − £400 = £2,100 | £2,100 |
Best choice: Trading Allowance (£600 lower taxable income)
Who Can Use the Trading Allowance
Eligible
- Sole traders
- Freelancers
- Casual workers
- Gig economy workers
- Online sellers (if trading)
- Anyone with miscellaneous self-employment income
Not Eligible
You cannot use the Trading Allowance if:
| Situation | Why | |-----------|-----| | Income from your employer or spouse's employer | Prevents abuse of employment income | | Income from a partnership you're in | Different rules apply | | Income from a company you own | Connected parties excluded | | Property income | Use Property Allowance instead |
Multiple Sources
If you have multiple trading income sources, they're combined:
| Source | Income | |--------|--------| | Freelance design work | £600 | | Selling crafts | £500 | | Total | £1,100 |
Total exceeds £1,000, so you must either:
- Deduct £1,000 Trading Allowance (pay tax on £100)
- Claim actual expenses across all trading activities
Trading Allowance vs Property Allowance
There are two separate £1,000 allowances:
| Allowance | Applies To | |-----------|------------| | Trading Allowance (£1,000) | Self-employment, casual work, selling | | Property Allowance (£1,000) | Rental income |
You can use both if you have both types of income.
Example: £800 from freelancing + £700 from renting a parking space
- Trading income (£800): Covered by Trading Allowance
- Property income (£700): Covered by Property Allowance
- Tax: £0 on both
Note: The £7,500 Rent a Room scheme is separate again and applies to renting a room in your main home.
Common Trading Allowance Questions
Does Selling on eBay/Vinted Count?
It depends on your intention and frequency:
| Situation | Treatment | |-----------|-----------| | Selling old clothes you no longer want | Not trading—no tax anyway | | Occasional clear-out of personal items | Not trading—no tax | | Regularly buying items to resell | Trading—Trading Allowance can apply | | Running a side business selling | Trading—Trading Allowance or expenses |
HMRC test: Are you buying with the intention to sell at a profit? If yes, it's trading.
From 2024: Platforms like eBay, Vinted, and Etsy must report seller income to HMRC. High-volume sellers may be asked to explain their activity.
What About Uber, Deliveroo, TaskRabbit?
Gig economy income is trading income:
| Platform | Treatment | |----------|-----------| | Uber/Bolt driving | Trading income | | Deliveroo/Just Eat delivery | Trading income | | TaskRabbit jobs | Trading income | | Fiverr/Upwork freelancing | Trading income |
If your total gig income is under £1,000, the Trading Allowance covers it. Over £1,000, compare the allowance to actual expenses (vehicle costs, phone, etc.).
Is Hobby Income Taxable?
A hobby becomes taxable when you're trading:
| Indicator | Hobby | Trading | |-----------|-------|---------| | Intention | Personal enjoyment | Make profit | | Frequency | Occasional | Regular | | Scale | Small, casual | Organised, business-like | | Commercial approach | None | Marketing, pricing strategy |
Grey area: If you sell some paintings from your hobby, HMRC looks at the overall picture. Occasional sales of hobby items may not be trading; systematic selling probably is.
Can I Use the Allowance Every Year?
Yes. The £1,000 Trading Allowance applies each tax year. You can use it annually as long as:
- Your income qualifies
- You're not connected to the payer (employer, etc.)
- You don't claim expenses instead
What If I'm Already Registered for Self Assessment?
If you're already registered and your trading income drops below £1,000:
- You can use the Trading Allowance for that income
- Still file your Self Assessment if required for other reasons
- Either show trading income as £0 (fully covered by allowance) or don't include it
Platform Reporting to HMRC
From January 2024, digital platforms must report seller income to HMRC:
| Platform Type | Reports To HMRC | |---------------|-----------------| | Online marketplaces (eBay, Etsy, Vinted) | Yes | | Gig economy (Uber, Deliveroo) | Yes | | Freelance platforms (Fiverr, Upwork) | Yes | | Rental platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com) | Yes |
What's reported:
- Your name and address
- Tax identification number (if provided)
- Total payments received
- Number of transactions
This doesn't automatically mean you owe tax—the Trading Allowance still applies. But HMRC can now see income you haven't declared.
When to Register for Self Assessment
Not Required
You don't need to register if:
- Total trading income is £1,000 or less, AND
- You're using the Trading Allowance, AND
- You have no other reason to file Self Assessment
Required
You must register if:
- Trading income exceeds £1,000
- You want to claim actual expenses (even if income under £1,000)
- You have other Self Assessment obligations (employment income over £150k, rental income, etc.)
Register by 5 October following the tax year: gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment
Making the Choice: Allowance vs Expenses
Use the Trading Allowance If:
- Expenses are less than £1,000
- You want simplicity (no record-keeping required)
- Income is just over £1,000
Claim Actual Expenses If:
- Expenses exceed £1,000
- You have significant costs (vehicle, materials, tools)
- You want to build a loss to carry forward
Decision Flowchart
-
Is trading income ≤ £1,000?
- Yes → Use allowance, nothing to report
- No → Continue
-
Are expenses > £1,000?
- Yes → Claim actual expenses
- No → Use Trading Allowance
-
Want to maximise deductions?
- Calculate both methods, choose lower taxable amount
Record Keeping
If Using the Allowance (Income ≤ £1,000)
- Keep informal records of income received
- No requirement to track expenses
- Retain records for 6 years in case of HMRC query
If Claiming Expenses
- Register for Self Assessment
- Track all income and expenses
- Keep receipts and invoices
- File tax return by 31 January
- Keep records for 6 years
Trading Allowance and Making Tax Digital
From April 2026 (income over £50,000) or April 2027 (over £30,000), Making Tax Digital applies to self-employment income.
If your trading income is under £1,000 and you're using the allowance, MTD doesn't apply to that income specifically. But if you have other qualifying income (larger self-employment or property), your total affairs come under MTD.
Examples by Situation
Example 1: Occasional Freelancer
Income: £800 from three freelance projects Expenses: £150 (software subscription)
Best choice: Trading Allowance
- Income under £1,000: no tax, no reporting
Example 2: Regular Gig Worker
Income: £4,500 from Deliveroo Expenses: £2,000 (mileage, phone, equipment)
Option A: £4,500 − £1,000 allowance = £3,500 taxable Option B: £4,500 − £2,000 expenses = £2,500 taxable
Best choice: Actual expenses (saves £200 tax at 20%)
Example 3: eBay Seller
Income: £1,200 from reselling items Expenses: £300 (postage, packaging, platform fees)
Option A: £1,200 − £1,000 allowance = £200 taxable Option B: £1,200 − £300 expenses = £900 taxable
Best choice: Trading Allowance (£700 lower taxable income)
Example 4: Craft Seller
Income: £2,800 from Etsy Expenses: £1,800 (materials, shipping, fees)
Option A: £2,800 − £1,000 allowance = £1,800 taxable Option B: £2,800 − £1,800 expenses = £1,000 taxable
Best choice: Actual expenses (£800 lower taxable income)
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Summary: Trading Allowance Quick Reference
| Income Level | What To Do | |--------------|------------| | ≤ £1,000 | No tax, no registration required | | > £1,000, low expenses | Deduct £1,000 allowance | | > £1,000, high expenses | Claim actual expenses |
Key points:
- Trading Allowance is £1,000 per tax year
- Can't use allowance AND claim expenses
- Property income has separate £1,000 Property Allowance
- Platforms now report your income to HMRC
- Register for Self Assessment if income exceeds £1,000