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 → |
Broad accounting software with strong bank feed automation. Good if you want one tool for invoicing and MTD together.
Compare plans →Widely used by accountants — a solid pick if you already work with a bookkeeper who's on QuickBooks.
Compare plans →Built for small sole traders and freelancers — simple day-to-day bookkeeping without the extras you won't use.
Compare plans →Built specifically for landlords — automatically categorises rental income and expenses per property.
Compare plans →Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't affect which threshold or start date applies to you, and we only list software genuinely built for MTD for Income Tax.
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.