Making Tax Digital: what you need to know to get it done

Doing starts with knowing. Here you’ll find clear answers on who’s affected by the legislation, when the key deadlines are and what to do next.

How FreeAgent can help

Accountant or bookkeeper? Visit our MTD information hub for a range of resources.

Two people jumping over an MTD done stamp into a tablet screen

What is it and when is it happening?

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is the government’s initiative to implement a fully digital tax system in the UK for Income Tax and for VAT (MTD for VAT arrived in 2022). Taxpayers will need to keep digital records and use MTD-compatible software to make their tax submissions electronically.

  1. April 2022

    MTD for VAT applies to all VAT-registered businesses

  2. April 2026

    MTD for Income Tax applies to most self-employed individuals and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000

  3. April 2027

    MTD for Income Tax will apply to most self-employed individuals and landlords with qualifying income over £30,000

  4. April 2028

    MTD for Income Tax will apply to most self-employed individuals and landlords with qualifying income over £20,000

Helpful guides to Making Tax Digital

Get on top of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax with our library of guides.

Get to grips with the MTD basics

What is ‘qualifying income’ and how do I find mine?
The date you have to use MTD depends on your ‘qualifying income’ - here’s what that means.

How do I sign up for MTD for Income Tax?
Ready to get going with MTD? Here’s how to get registered with HMRC and get your software ready to go.

MTD terms you need to know
Feeling confused about any of the new terminology? We’ve got you.

Getting MTD done: Dom Littlewood meets sole traders on front line of tax changes
Hear from other business owners who’re in the same position as you.

Illustration of scrabble pieces spelling out MTD HMRC

Events and webinars

MTD quarterly updates cracked: how to file in FreeAgent

Webinar recording

In this short webinar, we’ll take you through the simple steps you need to follow to file quarterly updates to HMRC.

Watch now

MTD for Income Tax: your step-by-step guide to getting started

On-demand webinar

This simple webinar will help you register for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and connect your software to HMRC. [15 mins]

Watch now

Landlords: get MTD done with FreeAgent

Webinar recording

In this webinar for landlords, we de-mystify how you’ll have to submit your information to HMRC and show what MTD for Income Tax will look like in FreeAgent. [30 mins]

Watch now

MTD for Income Tax news

A woman sits on a beanbag, working on her computer as a stack of papers flies into the screen of her computer.

12 August 2026

HMRC has signed me up for MTD - what do I do now?

From September, HMRC will start signing up sole traders and landlords who need to use MTD for Income Tax for the 2026 to 2027 tax year.

Read all our MTD articles on our blog

Getting MTD done with Dom

Find out what happened when TV journalist Dom Littlewood travelled the country to meet sole traders and accountants who will be hit by MTD. Watch the videos at the links below or click the button to read our blog.

Read all about it
Getting MTD done with Dom
Play video
Making Tax Digital without the tricks: Dom Littlewood meets mind-reader Chris Wall

‘There’s no trick to your taxes’

The magician

Chris Wall feels confident he’s ready for MTD, thanks to FreeAgent.

Watch Chris and Dom's chat
MTD for new businesses: Dom Littlewood meets gardener Emma Cooper

‘I know very little about MTD’

The gardener

Emma Cooper is just starting to dig into what the new tax rules will mean for her.

Watch Emma and Dom talk in the rain
MTD myths debunked: Dom Littlewood meets accountant Aaron Taylor

‘MTD is coming, so get prepared’

The accountant

Bright Ideas Accountancy is working hard to get clients ready - and bust MTD myths.

Get Aaron's advice
Facing the MTD music: Dom Littlewood meets producer Dean Glover

‘Some are frightened - but I’m ready’

The producer

At the studio where ‘Blue Monday’ was conceived, Dean Glover isn’t feeling down about MTD.

Enter the studio with Dean and Dom

FreeAgent can help you prepare for Making Tax Digital

FreeAgent’s powerful automation features can help get your accounts in order for digital filing with minimal hassle. Check out all the other ways FreeAgent can help you stay on top of your business finances.

How FreeAgent can help you

Accountants and bookkeepers, join our free Partner Programme and access exclusive discounts for your clients.

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