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Will Making Tax Digital hit you in 2026?
Answer 4 quick questions and get your personal MTD for Income Tax mandation date, quarterly deadline calendar, penalty-points rules and an action checklist — free to read on screen, no sign-up.
How do you work?
Combined GROSS income (turnover, not profit) from self-employment + property last tax year?
How do you keep your business records right now?
Do you have an accountant or bookkeeper?
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Your mandation date
Your verdict, deadlines and checklist are free to read above. Pop your details in once and you can print or save your personal action plan as a PDF.
Who this is for
Sole traders and landlords who file a Self Assessment return and want to know, in plain English, whether Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to them yet — and if so, what it actually involves. If you run a limited company, MTD for Income Tax doesn't touch your company accounts (Corporation Tax has its own separate MTD timeline, still to be confirmed). Everything you answer stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded until you choose to send us your details for the action plan. Getting mandated soon? Our Tax Pot Calculator works out what to set aside so quarterly reporting doesn't catch your cashflow out too.
Frequently asked questions
Is the threshold based on profit or turnover?
Turnover — HMRC calls it "gross qualifying income." That's your total income from self-employment plus property income before you deduct expenses, added together if you have both. A plumber billing £55,000 a year with £20,000 of van, tool and material costs still has £55,000 of qualifying income and is caught by the £50k threshold — even though their actual profit is only £35,000. It's based on the income shown on your most recently filed tax return.
What if I still use paper receipts or a shoebox of invoices?
You can't file MTD updates from paper alone — HMRC requires digital records kept using MTD-compatible software. The good news: you don't have to buy anything expensive. There are free and low-cost bridging tools that let you keep a simple spreadsheet and submit it digitally, and most mainstream accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage) is already compatible. The key is starting the switch now, not in March next year.
What software actually counts as "MTD-compatible"?
Any software on HMRC's official list of recognised MTD for Income Tax products — this includes full accounting packages and lighter "bridging software" that connects a spreadsheet to HMRC's system. If your accountant already uses Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent for your bookkeeping, you're very likely already covered — ask them to confirm.
What happens if I just ignore it?
Nothing happens on day one, but points accumulate every quarter you miss a submission, and a flat £200 penalty lands at 4 points — with a further £200 for every miss after that. On top of that, HMRC can still charge separate late-payment penalties and interest on tax that's actually owed. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away; it just means the first time you engage with it is under a penalty, not before one.
Please note: this tool gives a guide or estimate only. It may not be 100% accurate and is not professional advice — always check the figures before you rely on them. Rates, thresholds, allowances and rules can change without notice and may be out of date by the time you use this tool. Verify against HMRC / GOV.UK or your accountant before acting. Full official rules and the latest thresholds and dates are at gov.uk — search 'Making Tax Digital for Income Tax'. Check your specific position with HMRC or your accountant before acting.
Almost there
Where should we send your MTD action plan?
Your result, deadlines and checklist are free to read on screen. Pop your details in and you can print or save your personal MTD action plan right away — we build websites & lead systems for UK trades, this is how we say hello.
Success
You're all set!
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