If you're self-employed, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax changes how you report to HMRC — not how much tax you pay. This checklist covers what actually needs to happen, in order, so you're not scrambling the month before your start date.
1. Work out if you're affected — and from when
You're brought into MTD based on your qualifying income: your gross self-employment income (before expenses), taken from a specific tax year's Self Assessment return.
| If your income was... | For this tax year | You're required to join from |
|---|---|---|
| Over £50,000 | 2024–25 | 6 April 2026 |
| Over £30,000 | 2025–26 | 6 April 2027 |
| Over £20,000 | 2026–27 | 6 April 2028 |
If you have rental income too, it's added to your self-employment income for this test — HMRC looks at the combined total.
Not sure where you stand? Run the free 3-question checker — no email needed.
Check my status →2. Choose MTD-compatible software
HMRC doesn't provide software of its own. You need a product on HMRC's recognised list that can keep digital records and submit updates directly. For most sole traders, that's an all-in-one package like FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks rather than a spreadsheet — bridging software exists for spreadsheet users, but it adds a step most people don't need.
What to look for
- Explicitly marked as supporting "MTD for Income Tax" (not just MTD for VAT)
- Bank feed or receipt-scanning so you're not typing every transaction manually
- A price you'll actually pay year-round, not an introductory offer that jumps later
3. Start keeping digital records now, not on your start date
You don't need to wait until your mandate date to start using compatible software — signing up early means your first quarterly update isn't the first time you've used the system. HMRC's testing programme accepts early sign-ups.
4. Know your quarterly deadlines
Once you're in, you submit four updates a year covering rolling 3-month periods, plus a Final Declaration that replaces your old Self Assessment return. The first update for the April–June quarter is typically due by 7 August.
5. Decide: DIY or hand it to an accountant
Quarterly updates are lighter than a full annual return, but they're four times a year instead of one. If your bookkeeping is already behind, this is a natural point to get an accountant to take it over rather than trying to catch up under a new system at the same time.
FAQ
Do I need to do anything before April 2026 if I'm not affected yet?
No — but check again once you file your 2025–26 return, since the threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027.
What if my income goes up and down each year?
Once you're mandated in, you generally stay in even if income later drops below the threshold — there's a specific process for coming back out, based on multiple years below £20,000.