Don’t leave your tax return to the last minute. If you earn rental income, take action today to register with HMRC, gather your paperwork, and make sure you’re ready for the deadline.

If you earn rental income, there’s an important deadline you can’t afford to miss. With changes to how rental income is treated under self-assessment, landlords must now be extra vigilant about tax registration and filing. Acting early will help you stay compliant, avoid penalties, and keep your finances in order.

Key date: 5 October 2025

By 5 October 2025, landlords who:

Earned more than £1,000 in rental income (after allowable expenses),
Entered into a property partnership, or
Received other untaxed income such as dividends or freelance earnings

must register with HMRC for self-assessment.

If you’ve already completed a self-assessment tax return in previous years, you don’t need to re-register unless your circumstances have changed.

Rental income now counts towards self-assessment

Rental income has always been taxable, but HMRC is tightening the rules to ensure it is declared. If your rental income isn’t already taxed at source, it must be included in a self-assessment tax return.

Over £1,000 in property income? You must register.
Under £1,000? You can still register voluntarily to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions, which helps protect your entitlement to State Pension and other benefits.

Even if you pay tax through PAYE on your main income, you may still need to submit a self-assessment return for your rental income.

How to register

Registering is straightforward and can be done online via HMRC’s Government Gateway. Make sure your contact details — email and phone number — are up to date so you receive important notices and reminders.

If you miss the 5 October deadline, you may not get a Notice to File from HMRC, but you’ll still be legally required to submit your tax return by 31 January 2026.

Penalties for missing deadlines

Missing the self-assessment deadlines can be costly. HMRC applies automatic penalties for late filing and late payment:

£100 penalty for filing after 31 January.
£10 per day from three months late (up to £900).
At six and twelve months late, another £300 or 5% of the unpaid tax (whichever is higher).
Late payment charges: 5% of unpaid tax after 30 days, then another 5% after six months and again after twelve months, plus interest.
If you register late and tax is due, HMRC can issue a failure to notify’ penalty.

These charges add up quickly, so acting early can save you a significant sum.

Support for landlords

HMRC provides a range of resources to make self-assessment easier for landlords. From explainer videos and calculators to online webinars, there’s plenty of guidance available to help you complete your return accurately and on time.

Your next steps

Being a landlord brings many responsibilities — and keeping on top of your tax obligations is one of the most important. By registering before 5 October 2025 and filing your return by 31 January 2026, you’ll stay compliant, avoid penalties, and have peace of mind.

If you have any questions or need help with your property portfolio, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced and trained property experts on 0161 511 5339 or complete our contact form.