Making Tax Digital, explained
Plain answers for UK sole traders: when Making Tax Digital starts for you, what you have to send, the deadlines, and how to do it without paying for expensive software.
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Making Tax Digital for sole traders: what changes and when
From April 2026 HMRC wants self-employed people to keep digital records and send updates every three months. Who it applies to, the 2026, 2027 and 2028 start dates, what you have to send and what happens if you are late.
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Do I need Making Tax Digital? Work out your start date in two minutes
Add up the right income, compare it with three thresholds and you know when Making Tax Digital starts for you. With examples for riders, cleaners, people with a PAYE job and landlords.
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How to do Making Tax Digital without expensive software
You need records kept in software and a way to send them to HMRC every quarter. Here is a simple setup for sole traders, SoleLog on your phone plus My Tax Digital to send, step by step, and what it costs.
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Making Tax Digital deadlines for 2026-27, and what happens if you are late
Every Making Tax Digital date for the 2026-27 tax year in one place: the four quarterly updates, the tax return, payments on account, and the penalty points that start in 2027-28.