Compliance

Accounting Software Providers – MTD Hubs & Support

Xero

Full MTD hub: VAT, ITSA, webinars, accountant toolkits.
🔗 https://www.xero.com/uk/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
Online support via Xero Central (no phone line)

QuickBooks

MTD centre with tutorials, checklists, and VAT/ITSA guidance.
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
0808 234 5337

Sage

MTD readiness tools, VAT/ITSA guides, and step‑by‑step setup.
https://www.sage.com/en-gb/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
0191 479 5955

FreeAgent (especially useful for freelancers & micro businesses)

Clear MTD explainers and bank‑integrated workflows.
https://www.freeagent.com/making-tax-digital/

Support:
0800 288 8691

Zoho Books

MTD‑compatible VAT software with guides and onboarding.
🔗 https://www.zoho.com/uk/books/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
📞 020 3564 7895

ClearBooks

Simple MTD VAT tools for micro businesses.
https://www.clearbooks.co.uk/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
0203 475 4744

KashFlow

MTD VAT support and digital record‑keeping guidance.
https://www.kashflow.com/making-tax-digital/ 

Support:
0333 003 0156

Crunch

MTD VAT and ITSA guidance for freelancers and contractors.
https://www.crunch.co.uk/knowledge/making-tax-digital 

Support:
0333 311 8000

Find out how to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, including step by step guidance for sole traders, landlords, and their agents.

From:

HM Revenue & Customs

Published

10 February 2020

Last updated

17 December 2025 — See all updates

Get emails about this page

Contents

1. Who needs to sign up

2. Step by step guidance for sole traders, landlords and agents

3. After you or your client has signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

4. Choose agents for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

5. Exemptions from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

6. Help and support

7. Policy papers, legislation, research and evaluation reports

This guide is also available in Welsh.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a new way for sole traders and landlords to report their income and expenses to HMRC.  

From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords must use it if their annual income from self-employment and property is over £50,000.  

You, or your agent if you have one, will need to use software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax to:  

• create, store and correct digital records of your self-employment and property income and expenses   

• send your quarterly updates to HMRC   

• submit your tax return and pay tax due by 31 January the following year 

Who needs to sign up 

You or your client will need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from 6 April 2026 if all the following apply. You or your client: 

• is an individual registered for Self Assessment 

• gets income from self-employment or property, or both 

• have qualifying income of more than £50,000 — read more about what qualifying income is and what is included 

Step by step guidance for sole traders, landlords and agents

Find out what you need to do for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax if you are either:  

• self-employed, a landlord or both  

• an agent acting on behalf of a sole trader or landlord

• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for sole traders and landlords: step by step

  • 17 December 2025

  • Collection

• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax as an agent: step by step

  • 17 December 2025

  • Collection

After you or your client has signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Find out what you need to do after you’ve signed up or if you’re an agent, after your client is signed up. 

This includes:

• creating digital records

• sending quarterly updates

• submitting your tax return using compatible software

• what to do if your circumstances change

• Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

  • 9 February 2026

Choose agents for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Find out how main and supporting agents can help you manage Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. If you’re an agent, find out more about your role and how to get authorised by your client.

• Choose agents for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

  • 28 August 2025

  • Guidance

Exemptions from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Find out who is exempt from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

• Find out if you can get an exemption from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

  • 29 January 2026

  • Guidance

Help and support

Watch HMRC videos or sign up for webinars if you want to learn more about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

• HMRC videos and webinars for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

  • 6 February 2026

  • Guidance

Policy papers, legislation, research and evaluation reports

Read policy papers, legislation, research and evaluation reports for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

• Making Tax Digital: technical publications

  • 7 May 2025

  • Collection

Published 10 February 2020

ICAEW – MTD Hub

Technical briefings, agent guidance, and client explainers.
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digital

ACCA – MTD Resources

Guidance for accountants and small businesses.
https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/technical-activities/technical-resources-search/2022/january/making-tax-digital.html 

AAT – MTD Support

Articles, updates, and training for advisers.
https://www.aat.org.uk/prod/s3fs-public/assets/Making-Tax-Digital.pdf

1. HMRC – Official Government Resources

HMRC: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Guidance on who must join, timelines (2026–27), digital records, quarterly updates, and software.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax 

HMRC: Making Tax Digital for VAT

How to comply, sign‑up steps, software requirements, and exemptions.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-record-keeping-and-returns-using-software 

HMRC: List of MTD‑Compatible Software

Searchable list for VAT and Income Tax.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-software-thats-compatible-with-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax 

HMRC Webinars & YouTube Tutorials

Free training sessions and video explainers.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-making-tax-digital 

HMRC General Helpline

0300 200 3310 (Income Tax)
0300 200 3700 (VAT)
Mon–Fri, UK office hours.

Banks – MTD Support Hubs

Lloyds Bank / Bank of Scotland / Halifax

One of the most comprehensive bank‑led MTD hubs.
Includes: timelines, checklists, software guidance, accountant support.
https://resources.lloydsbank.com/business/making-tax-digital/ 

Customer support:
Via business banking relationship manager or online banking secure message.

NatWest / Royal Bank of Scotland

Guides for VAT, digital record‑keeping, and software integration.
https://www.natwest.com/business/insights/making-tax-digital.html 

Business support:
0345 711 4477 (NatWest Business)
0345 600 2230 (RBS Business)

Barclays

Digital skills hub + MTD explainers for micro businesses.
https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/manage/making-tax-digital/ 

Business support:
0345 605 2345

HSBC UK

MTD VAT guidance and digital‑finance readiness tools.
https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/insights/business-finance/making-tax-digital 

Business support:
03457 60 60 60

• Introduction

  About Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, who needs to use it and by when, and what to expect after you sign up.

• Signing up

  Check if you or your client can sign up early, how to choose the right software and authorise a tax agent and software.

• After you sign up

  How to access your new Making Tax Digital for Income Tax service and dedicated support.

• Create digital records

  How to create and store digital records of your self-employment and property income and expenses for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. 

• Send quarterly updates

  How and when to send quarterly updates and what’s included in them.

• Adjust your self-employment and property income

  How to make adjustments after you have sent your final quarterly update.

• Submit your tax return

  How to complete and submit your tax return using software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

• If your circumstances change

  Find out what you need to do when your circumstances change, such as adding and ceasing your income sources, changing software or tax agent, adjusting payments on account, and amending a submitted tax return.

• Help and support

  Find help, including from HMRC, if you need it.

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