Do I need to register as self-employed as a delivery driver?
Yes, if your delivery income before expenses was more than £1,000 in a tax year.
Last checked 12/09/2026.
Yes - if your income from delivery work, before expenses, was more than £1,000 in a tax year, you must register for Self Assessment. That threshold is the trading allowance, and it is measured against everything the platforms paid you, not against your profit.
The deadline is 5 October after the end of the tax year you first passed it in. The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April, so a driver who started in June 2026 has until 5 October 2027.
Registering gets you a UTR, which arrives by post and takes a couple of weeks. You cannot file without one, so registering early matters more than it sounds. Register for Self Assessment (opens in a new tab).
It makes no difference whether delivery is your only job. If you also work PAYE, you register for the self-employed income on top and file a return covering both.
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