Tax for a UK dog walking business: registering, Self Assessment, VAT and Making Tax Digital

Once walking dogs starts paying, HMRC wants to know. Here's when you have to register, the dates that matter, when VAT starts, and what Making Tax Digital means for a walker, in plain words.

We checked these facts in November 2026 on gov.uk, and each one is linked. This is a guide, not tax advice: an accountant can tell you what fits your business.

Under £1,000 a year: nothing to do

The first £1,000 a year of self-employed income is your trading allowance. If your takings are £1,000 or less, you don't need to tell HMRC. Tax-free allowances on trading income

Over £1,000: register for Self Assessment

• Register by 5 October after the end of the tax year you started in. The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April. Registering late can mean a penalty. Register as self-employed
• Your return for 2025 to 26 is due by 31 January 2027 online (paper was 31 October 2026), and so is the tax. Self Assessment deadlines

VAT starts at £90,000

You must register for VAT when your takings over the last 12 months go over £90,000. Register within 30 days of the end of the month you went over. When to register for VAT

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

From April 2026, sole traders above a set income keep digital records and send HMRC an update every quarter, instead of only one return a year. It goes by your takings before expenses:

• Over £50,000 in 2024 to 25: from 6 April 2026, so it's live now.
• Over £30,000 in 2025 to 26: from 6 April 2027.
• Over £20,000 in 2026 to 27: from 6 April 2028.

Check if Making Tax Digital applies to you

Keep your records for 5 years

Keep your records for at least 5 years after the 31 January deadline for that tax year: what each client paid, and what you spent. How long to keep your records

Records that keep themselves

A walking business earns in small amounts, every day, from lots of owners, which is exactly what makes the books slow. BarkBus was built by two people who ran one for ten years:

• Every walk becomes a charge on that owner's account, so your takings are recorded as you work.
• What each owner paid and owes is on their Owner profile.
• Your totals are on Reports, ready for your return or your accountant.

Start free with BarkBus