Self Assessment for self-employed hairdressers in the UK
Most self-employed hairdressers in the UK are self-employed rather than employees, which means no one deducts your tax for you. You register with HMRC, file a Self Assessment return once a year, and pay what you owe by 31 January. This guide covers what to declare, what you can claim, and the dates that matter.
Do you need to file?
You need to register for Self Assessment if your self-employed income was more than £1,000 in the tax year, before expenses.
The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April. If you started during the 2025-26 tax year, your deadline to register with HMRC is 5 October 2026, and your first return is due by 31 January 2027.
If you earned under £1,000 you may be able to use the Trading Allowance and not file at all. You cannot use the Trading Allowance and claim expenses at the same time.
Which forms you need
| Form | When it applies |
|---|---|
| SA100 | The main Self Assessment return. Everyone files this. |
| SA103S | Self-employment (short) pages. Your self-employed income and expenses go here. |
What you can claim
These are the costs self-employed hairdressers can usually claim, where each is incurred wholly for the work:
- Chair rent: Rent paid for a chair in a salon you do not own.
- Products and colour: Colour and other salon products used on clients.
- Scissors and equipment: Scissors and the equipment a stylist uses.
- Insurance: Business insurance the work requires.
- Training courses: Courses that maintain or update your existing skills.
- Towels and gowns: Salon textiles bought and replaced through the year, including the cost of laundering them.
- Booking software: Subscription to an online booking or appointment system used to take and manage client appointments.
- Advertising: Advertising the property or the business.
- Phone and data: The business share of your mobile phone and data.
- Professional body membership: Membership of a professional body relevant to the work.
- Accountancy fees: Fees paid to an accountant for the business.
Parking paid legitimately while working is allowable. Fines of any kind are never allowable.
The rule most self-employed hairdressers get wrong
Chair rent paid to a salon is allowable in full. If the salon deducts it before paying you, declare the gross takings and claim the rent as an expense.
Keep a simple record you can produce if HMRC asks. If you are not yet within Making Tax Digital, a spreadsheet is enough; HMRC does not require a specific format, only a record.
Deadlines for the 2025-26 tax year
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5 April 2026 | Tax year ends |
| 5 October 2026 | Deadline to register with HMRC if this is your first return |
| 31 October 2026 | Paper return deadline |
| 31 January 2027 | Online filing deadline and payment deadline |
| 31 January 2027 | First payment on account, if your bill is over £1,000 |
| 31 July 2027 | Second payment on account |
Payments on account catch a lot of first time filers out. If your bill is over £1,000, you pay it in full plus half again towards next year, on the same day.
National Insurance
As a self-employed person you pay Class 4 National Insurance at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that, for the 2025-26 tax year. Class 2 is no longer compulsory, but you may choose to pay it voluntarily to protect your State Pension record if your profits are low.
Making Tax Digital
From 6 April 2026, if your qualifying income from self-employment and property, before expenses, is over £50,000, you must keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC through MTD-compatible software, then a final declaration after the year ends. The threshold falls to £30,000 from April 2027 and to £20,000 from April 2028. HMRC uses the income on an earlier tax return to decide when you join, and writes to tell you. Below the threshold, you file a normal Self Assessment return.
Direct submission to HMRC via the Making Tax Digital API is in development, pending HMRC production access.
How TaxEase UK helps
TaxEase UK walks you through your Self Assessment step by step, in your own language, with every box explained in plain words.
Scan your statements and invoices with the built-in OCR and the figures fill in themselves. The deductibility checker tells you yes, no or partial for any expense you are unsure about.
Your tax data stays on your device unless you choose to send it to your accountant or to HMRC. No bank account link, no data sharing.
Frequently asked questions
Do self-employed hairdressers need to file a Self Assessment?
If your self-employed income was more than £1,000 in the 2025-26 tax year, before expenses, yes. Below that you may be able to use the Trading Allowance instead.
Does HMRC already know what I earned?
Often, yes. Digital platforms and some payers report income to HMRC, so the figures you declare need to match. Declare your gross income and claim your costs separately.
What if I also have a normal PAYE job?
You declare both. Employment income goes on SA102 from your P60 or P45, and your self-employed income on SA103S. Tax already paid through PAYE is credited against your total bill.
I only worked part of the year, do I still file?
If your income for the work was over £1,000 in the tax year, yes, however few months you worked.
Can TaxEase UK do this in my language?
Yes. The whole return is guided in 10 languages, with every box explained in plain words, and the free version covers the main steps with no time limit.
Related guides
TaxEase UK is an independent software product. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by HMRC or the UK Government. Figures shown apply to the 2025-26 tax year.