HMRC could issue £1,600 fines for tax rules error with 400,000 people 'at risk'

HMRC could issue fines of up to £1,600 for a tax rules error. Experts warn that 400,000 people are particularly at risk.

The issue relates to gifts and freebies received by people running side hustles on social media . This is likely to mean they need to pay tax in January 2026 - but many may not be aware of this.

With an estimated 400,000 micro-influencers (sellers with accounts that have between 1,000 and 25,000 followers) in the UK on Instagram alone, it's important to know that anything received in return for creating content counts towards your tax liabilities.

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Experts say micro-influencers often provide better