Side Hustle Tax Guides by Platform 2026/27
By Omair SaoLast reviewed — rates for the 2026/27 tax year. See how we check our figures.
Fourteen guides, one per platform, covering what you actually pay, which costs you can deduct, the records each app gives you, and what the platform now sends to HMRC.
The rules are the same whichever app you use: the first £1,000 of self-employed income a year is covered by the trading allowance, above that you register for Self Assessment, and you pay Income Tax plus Class 4 National Insurance on profit rather than on gross earnings. What differs is the practical detail: whether mileage or stock is your main expense, whether your income counts as trading or property income, and what your platform reports. Since January 2024 every UK digital platform has had to report its sellers to HMRC each January, so the guides explain what that means for you before it lands in a letter. For a quick estimate use the side hustle tax calculator.
Food and parcel delivery
Riders and couriers are self-employed. Mileage or vehicle costs are usually the biggest deduction, and every platform reports your fees to HMRC.
Deliveroo tax guide
Deliveroo is one of the UK's largest food delivery platforms, operating in over 100 towns and cities. Riders are classed as self-employed and can choose their own hours, delivering food from local restaurants and grocery stores to customers' doors.
Typical earnings: £10–15/hour before expenses
Uber Eats tax guide
Uber Eats allows self-employed couriers to deliver food and groceries across the UK using a car, scooter, bicycle, or on foot. The platform operates in most major UK cities and offers flexible scheduling with no minimum hours.
Typical earnings: £9–14/hour before expenses
Just Eat tax guide
Just Eat is the UK's largest food ordering platform. It wound down its directly employed courier scheme in 2023, so couriers in its delivery network now work as self-employed independent contractors who choose their own hours and are responsible for their own tax.
Typical earnings: £9–13/hour before expenses
Amazon Flex tax guide
Amazon Flex lets self-employed drivers deliver Amazon parcels using their own car. Drivers book time blocks of 2–4 hours via the Amazon Flex app and deliver packages from local Amazon depots to customers. The service operates across most major UK cities.
Typical earnings: £13–17/hour before expenses
Driving
Private-hire drivers claim vehicle costs against fares; VAT and licensing rules add complications that delivery riders do not face.
Selling online
Selling your own possessions is not taxable; buying to resell is. Marketplaces report sellers who pass 30 sales or about £1,700 in a year.
eBay tax guide
eBay is the UK's largest online marketplace for buying and selling goods. Whether you sell second-hand items from your home or run a business selling new products, eBay provides access to millions of UK buyers. Occasional sellers and full-time businesses both use the platform.
Typical earnings: Varies widely — £50–500+/month for casual sellers, £1,000+/month for business sellers
Vinted tax guide
Vinted is a popular peer-to-peer marketplace in the UK for selling second-hand clothing, shoes, and accessories. Unlike eBay, Vinted does not charge seller fees — the buyer pays a protection fee instead. It has become hugely popular for decluttering wardrobes and sustainable fashion.
Typical earnings: £50–300/month for regular sellers
Etsy tax guide
Etsy is a global marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and craft items. UK sellers use Etsy to sell everything from jewellery and art prints to personalised gifts and digital downloads. It attracts buyers looking for unique, non-mass-produced goods.
Typical earnings: £200–2,000+/month depending on product and niche
Depop tax guide
Depop is a fashion-focused marketplace popular with younger sellers in the UK, particularly for vintage, streetwear, and Y2K fashion. It combines social media features with e-commerce, making it feel like a cross between Instagram and a shop.
Typical earnings: £50–500/month for active sellers
Freelance and services
Fees for services are reported with no minimum threshold, and overseas platforms often pay in dollars, which must be converted for your return.
Fiverr tax guide
Fiverr is a global freelance marketplace where UK sellers offer services (called 'gigs') starting from £5. Popular categories include graphic design, writing, video editing, voiceover, programming, and virtual assistance. Sellers set their own prices and work entirely remotely.
Typical earnings: £200–3,000+/month depending on skills and niche
Upwork tax guide
Upwork is one of the world's largest freelancing platforms, connecting UK freelancers with clients globally. It is suited to higher-value, longer-term projects in areas like web development, design, writing, marketing, accounting, and consulting. Upwork uses a tiered fee structure based on lifetime billings with each client.
Typical earnings: £500–5,000+/month depending on skills and experience
Tutoring tax guide
Private tutoring is a popular side hustle in the UK, covering school subjects, university preparation, music, languages, and professional skills. Tutors can work through platforms like Tutorful, MyTutor, and Superprof, or find clients independently. Both in-person and online tutoring are common.
Typical earnings: £20–60/hour depending on subject and level
Content creation
Ad revenue, sponsorships and memberships are all trading income once they pass the £1,000 trading allowance.
Letting a room or property
Property income has its own rules: rent-a-room relief covers the first £7,500 from a room in your own home, and no Class 4 NI is due.