The role of the accountant in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
5 min read
Tax hub
Take control of your tax: MTD made simple
Ready for Making Tax Digital? Explore Mettle's features and take the hassle out of the Self Assessment tax return.
Mettle is for sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners (only one owner can access the account). Only one account can be opened per person.
What is Making Tax Digital?
From April 2026, Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment will require most self-employed individuals and landlords with business or property income over £50,000 per year to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC using compatible software.
Go digital with your records
Ditch the paper piles and embrace digital record-keeping. Using spreadsheets or accounting software, like FreeAgent (included with Mettle), can significantly simplify your tax management and ensure you're MTD compliant.
Stay ahead of deadlines
Keep track of crucial tax deadlines and requirements. The tax timeline feature in the Mettle app, powered by FreeAgent, helps you stay organised and prepared. See a running total of how much you’re likely to owe with the tax calculation too.
Discover the tax calculation feature.
Get accounting software
Simplify your financial management with the right tools. FreeAgent accounting software is included with your Mettle account and is MTD compliant.
You will need to be connected to FreeAgent for the tax calculation and tax timeline feature to be accurate. To get FreeAgent included, you must make at least one transaction a month from your Mettle account. If you don’t make one transaction a month, or if your Mettle account is closed and you continue to use FreeAgent then the FreeAgent fees will apply. FreeAgent has optional paid-for add ons that may be chargeable.
Blogs on Making Tax Digital
How Mettle could help you
Organise your transactions
Mettle helps you keep all your business transactions in one place, neatly organised and easily searchable. This eliminates the stress of gathering paperwork when it's time to submit your tax updates.
Auto-categorising your payments
Mettle automatically categorises your income and expenses, saving you valuable time and ensuring accuracy. This feature simplifies your record-keeping and provides a clear overview of your financial position for tax purposes.
Keep your receipts digitally
Say goodbye to shoeboxes full of receipts! Mettle allows you to easily photograph and store your receipts digitally within the app, ensuring you have a secure and organised record of your expenses.
See how much tax you could owe
Use the tax calculation feature to see how much tax you’re likely to owe at the end of the tax year. By connecting to FreeAgent, you can get a running total in the Mettle app, along with a tax timeline.
Discover the tax calculation feature.
Sound good? Apply now
Have a quick look at our eligibility criteria.
- You’re a sole trader or limited company with up to two owners
- You have a balance limit of up to £1 million
- You’re a UK-based company with owners that are UK tax residents
FAQs
What is Making Tax Digital?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC's initiative to modernise the tax system. It requires businesses and self-employed individuals to maintain digital records of their income and expenses and submit updates to HMRC through MTD-compatible software. This aims to reduce errors, improve efficiency, and simplify tax administration.
What if my turnover is less than £50,000 in 2026?
If your business or property income is below £50,000 in the 2026/27 tax year, you will not be mandated to use MTD for Income Tax. However, it's worth preparing early as the threshold will be lowered to £30,000 from April 2027. Keeping digital records can also bring benefits to your business, regardless of the mandate.
Do I have to register anywhere for Making Tax Digital?
You don't need to register separately for MTD. Once you start using MTD-compatible software to submit your income tax updates, you are effectively participating in the system. You will, of course, need to be registered for Self Assessment with HMRC.
What software do I need for MTD?
To comply with MTD for Income Tax, you'll need to use MTD-compatible software to keep your digital records and submit your quarterly updates to HMRC.
Read moreThis software can take various forms, including:
Accounting software packages (like FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks)
Spreadsheets (with HMRC-approved bridging software to connect to HMRC's systems)
Mobile apps designed for record-keeping and MTD submissions
You can find all MTD-compliant software on the HMRC website here.
What are the deadlines for MTD submissions?
You’ll need to submit quarterly updates to HMRC as part of MTD. While the exact dates can be subject to change, it’s best to check the HMRC website for the latest updates and information.