Self-employed & taking a break from work - do I tell HMRC?

CoyKarp

Hi all

I cannot find a definitive answer to this in google, so I thought this forum might help. (No idea which category to use, sorry, so I used the closest one.)

I am 59 and a self-employed sole trader. Due to health and other reasons, I slowed down my work last year and have not worked at all since October 2025. Living on savings.

I am unsure when I am returning to work, whether this year or next. I am not stopping work for good though, so do I need to tell HMRC? If so, at what point?

I had not though this was an issue until today when I was working out how much to put in my SIPP before 5th April and some opinions came up in searches.

Thanks very much.

MyRealNameToo

You only need to inform them when you want to stop having to do the self assessment, ie when you've gone a whole financial year with no intent to work

Albermarle

I had not though this was an issue until today when I was working out how much to put in my SIPP before 5th April and some opinions came up in searches.

The only thing that affects how much you can put in your SIPP ( and get tax relief) is your profit for tax year 25/26. If it was say £20K, you can add £16K and £4K tax relief will be added. The fact you are not currently working now is not relevant, neither is how much tax you will actually pay .

CoyKarp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897545#Comment_81897545

Thanks - I would love to find this info on the HMRC website as it feels like there is a lot of change going on, ie with Making Tax Digital.

CoyKarp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897674#Comment_81897674

Oh yes, I am well aware of how this works. But I have been looking at my finances in general today, SIPP included, and so various things floated to the top.