If you are a personal trainer, coach or fitness instructor in the UK, there is a change coming to how you report income. It is called Making Tax Digital.
Here is what actually matters.
The Headlines
Introduced by HM Revenue and Customs, this will change how self employed income is reported. Instead of one tax return per year, you will:
- Keep digital records
- Send quarterly summaries
- Complete a final yearly submission
When It Applies
- April 2026 – Income over £50,000
- April 2027 – Income over £30,000
- April 2028 – Planned for income over £20,000
Income means total earnings before expenses.
If You Earn Under £10K a Year
This is where most part time fitness instructors sit. If you earn £5K to £10K
- You are not affected right now
- Nothing changes today
- You continue with normal Self Assessment
In most cases, if you earn under £4K
- You may not even need to register as self employed
- You can use the £1,000 trading allowance
- If your total side income is under £1,000, you may not need to report it at all
If you are earning £1K to £4K:
- You may still need to submit a tax return
- but Making Tax Digital does not apply
What To Do Now
Even if you are not affected yet:
- Track your income
- Track your expenses
- Keep things simple and organised
This will make things easier if your income grows.
Why This Matters
Most fitness professionals do not treat what they do as a business. This change is pushing everyone in that direction. If you get ahead of it early, you will be in a stronger position than most.
I’m working on a detailed guide to support fitness professionals – if you want to stay up to date sign up to my newsletter here: