How to stop being self-employed
When you are trading as a sole trader, or you are ending or leaving a business partnership, you must:
- Inform HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and deregister for self-assessment.
- Deregister as Self-Employed Online using HMRC’s stopping self-employment form. To fill the form, you will need your UTR number and national insurance number. Remember that the deregistration form will require you to add the date you officially want to stop self-employment.
- File a tax return for the tax year you cease self employment
- If your self employed sales income drops below £1,000 you do not need to file a tax return
What happens if you do not notify HMRC?
If you do not inform HMRC you have stopped being self-employed (after you have stopped trading), HMRC will continue sending you self-assessment tax returns. If you ignore these returns you will be liable for late filing penalties.
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