Find out when Making Tax Digital applies to you. Answer three questions and get a straight answer — no email required.
From April 2028, the threshold falls to £20,000 — millions more sole traders and landlords will be included. If you're anywhere near that line, it's worth knowing now.
Three quick questions. Your answer appears instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.
No jargon — just what's different from what you do today.
Instead of a single Self Assessment return each January, you send HMRC a quarterly summary of income and expenses — four times a year, plus a Final Declaration that replaces the old return.
HMRC doesn't provide its own software. You keep digital records and submit through a recognised product — spreadsheets alone don't qualify unless paired with bridging software.
Once you're in, your first quarterly update for the April–June quarter is typically due by 7 August that year — not January. Missed updates can trigger points-based penalties.
If you're affected, you'll need HMRC-recognised software before your start date — HMRC doesn't provide its own. Here's which one tends to fit which situation. See the full feature comparison →
| Software | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| FreeAgent | Freelancers and small sole traders | Compare → |
| Xero | Growing businesses, multiple income streams | Compare → |
| QuickBooks | Anyone working with an accountant already on it | Compare → |
| Hammock | Landlords with one or more rental properties | Compare → |
Best for: growing businesses that need invoicing, bank feeds and accountant support in one place.
Broad accounting software with strong bank feed automation. Good if you want one tool for invoicing and MTD together.
Compare plans →Best for: anyone whose accountant already works in QuickBooks.
Widely used by accountants — a solid pick if you already work with a bookkeeper who's on QuickBooks.
Compare plans →Best for: freelancers and sole traders who want simple bookkeeping with minimal setup.
Built for small sole traders and freelancers — simple day-to-day bookkeeping without the extras you won't use.
Compare plans →Best for: UK landlords with one or more rental properties.
Built specifically for landlords — automatically categorises rental income and expenses per property.
Compare plans →We link directly to each provider's official site based on genuine fit for MTD for Income Tax — not commission. Some of these may become affiliate links in future once partnership applications are approved; this won't affect the price you pay.
Some people would rather hand the quarterly updates to someone else. Tell us a bit about your situation and we'll pass it to an accountant who covers MTD for Income Tax — no obligation to use them.