What happens if I stop delivering partway through the tax year?
Stopping delivery work partway through the tax year means you still need to file a final Self Assessment return and tell HMRC you have stopped.
Last checked 17/10/2026.
If you stop delivery work partway through the tax year, your self-employment does not close automatically. You still need to report your income and expenses for the months you were active, and you must tell HMRC that you have stopped trading.
What you need to do
- Work out your final income from all apps and any direct delivery work up to your last day.
- Add up your allowable expenses and mileage for that same active period.
- File your Self Assessment tax return online by the normal deadline after the tax year ends on 5 April.
- Tell HMRC through your online tax account or by calling them that you have stopped being self-employed so they know not to expect future returns.
What happens to your tax bill and payments on account
You only pay tax on the profit you actually made up to the date you stopped. If your balancing bill is over £1,000, you might have payments on account set up for the following year. Because you have stopped working, you can ask HMRC to reduce these payments on account to zero so you do not pay money towards a year when you have no delivery earnings.
Sources
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