Freelance work and tax?

[Doodledumdums]

Sorry for the boring nature of this post!

I have the opportunity to do some freelance work, but i'm having trouble understanding what will be required from a tax perspective? I will be working full time in my usual job (earning 23k if that is relevant?), and the freelance work will be anything from £0- £600 per month depending on how productive I am each month. The freelance money will be paid directly into my bank account, but will totally vary each month. Is the tax supposed to be paid monthly, or do I pay it all at the end of the financial year once I know exactly how much extra I have earned for the year? Does it make things more complicated because I have a FT job already which I am paying tax on via my employer?

TIA for any help!

You will need to complete a tax return once a year, and pay it then. My stepdad puts 25% of all self employed earnings into a separate account to pay his tax at the end of the financial year, so he's not panicking when he gets his tax bill.

you'll pay it next year, so remember to save up for it.

Register for a tax return (start the process now so you have the government gateway passwords etc). Then in early summer next year, do the return. On that you will include your FT work and the freelance stuff, and the figures will all whirl around to give you your tax bill. In some circumstances you can pay that bill from earnings deductions.

keep records of what you are paid, any expenses etc. With accurate records kept as you go, the return itself takes 30 mins. And if you submit in early summer, you get any refunds quickly and can always get through on the helplines. Too many people get caught out by the surprise arrival of the Jan 31st deadline each year.