Side hustle tax calculator (UK)

Find out what you owe HMRC on Vinted, eBay, Airbnb, Uber, OnlyFans, or any side income. 60 seconds, no signup. New HMRC platform reporting rules are in force, with the first Self Assessment due 31 January 2027.

270 days until your 31 January 2027 Self Assessment deadline

Free. Your numbers stay in your browser. We never see them.

Why this exists

HMRC's platform reporting rules came in on 1 January 2024. Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Airbnb, OnlyFans, Uber and 30+ other platforms now send seller earnings directly to HMRC. The first nudge letters started landing in late 2024.

Most existing answers are either £200 accountant upsells or HMRC pages written for accountants. SideTax tells you what you owe in plain English, in 60 seconds, with no signup. If you want the filing detail, the optional £2.99 PDF prep pack saves another hour of reading.

Built by Rohail in Bournemouth. Not authorised by the FCA. Not selling your data. Email hello@sidetax.co.uk with questions.

Your tax breakdown

Why HMRC suddenly cares about your side hustle

Online platforms have been legally required to report seller earnings to HMRC since January 2024. If you crossed £1,735 (€2,000) in a year or made 30 or more transactions, the platform passed your details to HMRC by 31 January, whether you knew about it or not.

HMRC has now received platform data for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years and has been sending nudge letters since late 2024. Your 2024/25 Self Assessment (due 31 January 2026) and 2025/26 Self Assessment (due 31 January 2027) are both being cross-checked against the data platforms have shared.

This calculator gives you a straight answer using the actual rules. The £1,000 trading allowance, your tax band, Class 4 National Insurance, the lot. No cookies, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.

Crossing the reporting threshold is not the same as owing tax. Casual sellers of personal items still owe nothing.

How the £1,000 trading allowance works

If your gross side income from selling things or services is £1,000 or less in a tax year, you do not owe tax and do not need to file Self Assessment for it. That is the trading allowance.

If you earn more than £1,000, you can either:

  • Deduct the £1,000 allowance and pay tax on the rest, with no expenses claimable, or
  • Claim your actual allowable expenses (postage, fees, materials) and pay tax on what is left.

Whichever gives you the lower tax bill. The calculator above picks the better option for you automatically.

Pick your platform for a tailored guide

Common questions

I sold off old clothes on Vinted. Do I owe tax?

Generally no. Selling your own personal possessions for less than what you paid is not taxable income, even if you cross £1,000. HMRC distinguishes between trading (buying or making things to sell) and casual disposal of your own stuff. If you are flipping items, sourcing stock to resell, or making things to sell, that is trading. More on the Vinted distinction here.

I have a full-time job. Does that change anything?

Yes. Your employer already takes income tax and NI from your salary via PAYE. Side hustle income gets added on top. If your salary is £35,000, your side hustle profit is taxed at 20% until your total income hits £50,270, then 40% above that. The calculator handles this automatically when you enter your salary.

Is this a full tax return?

No. This calculator tells you what you would owe. It does not file your Self Assessment. To file, you will use HMRC's online return directly, software like FreeAgent or Coconut, or an accountant. The calculator is here to demystify the number.

What if I am in Scotland?

Scottish income tax has six rates above the personal allowance (19%, 20%, 21%, 42%, 45%, 48%) instead of three. National Insurance is the same UK-wide. The calculator currently uses England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates. Scottish taxpayers will see a slightly different result on their actual return. Scottish-rates support is on the roadmap.

Worth knowing SideTax is a calculator, not tax advice. Results are estimates for the most common UK situations using HMRC's published rates. They do not account for Scottish income tax bands, capital gains, marriage allowance transfers, student loan deductions, child benefit clawback, pension contributions, gift aid, or other personal circumstances. For complex situations or large numbers, consult a qualified accountant. We are not authorised by the FCA.
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