Making Tax Digital is changing how landlords and sole traders keep records and report income to HMRC. If it applies to you, you’ll need compatible software and a more structured digital process. Affinia can help you understand your obligations, prepare your records and get ready for quarterly updates.
Making Tax Digital support for landlords and sole traders
MTD can affect different people in different ways. A landlord with rental income may need a different record-keeping process from a sole trader managing invoices, expenses and business transactions.
We provide dedicated MTD support for both audiences, so you can get advice that reflects your situation rather than a generic online guide.
Making Tax Digital for Landlords
Get help reviewing your rental income, property records, software setup and quarterly updates, with advice tailored to landlords.
Making Tax Digital for Sole Traders
Get help reviewing your bookkeeping, digital records, software and quarterly updates.
Key dates for Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being introduced in stages. The date you need to start depends on your qualifying income from self-employment and property.
6 April 2026
Self-employed people and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000
6 April 2027
Self-employed people and landlords with qualifying income over £30,000
6 April 2028
Self-employed people and landlords with qualifying income over £20,000
Not sure when MTD applies to you?
Client Scenarios
Making Tax Digital can affect people differently depending on how they earn income and keep their records. Explore these examples to see the type of practical support we can provide.
How Affinia can support you with Making Tax Digital
Preparing for Making Tax Digital involves more than signing up for software. We can review your position, help put the right records and systems in place, and support you through quarterly updates and year-end reporting.
Understand when MTD applies to you
Before changing your systems, we can review whether MTD applies to you and when you are likely to need to start.
We will consider your qualifying income from self-employment and property, including situations where you receive income from more than one source.
We can also review your current records, spreadsheets or bookkeeping process, identify any gaps and give you a practical preparation plan.
Does Making Tax Digital apply to you?
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to sole traders and landlords whose qualifying income is above the relevant threshold.
Qualifying income can include income from self-employment and property. If you receive income from more than one source, Affinia can review your position and explain when you are likely to need to start using MTD.
Download our Making Tax Digital roadmap
Not sure where to start? Download our Making Tax Digital roadmap for a simple overview of the key dates, who is affected and what you may need to prepare.
The benefits of getting MTD-ready early
Preparing before your mandatory start date gives you time to improve your records, test your software and resolve any issues before quarterly reporting becomes part of your routine.
- Less pressure at the end of the tax year
- Cleaner records and fewer missing expenses
- Better visibility of income, costs and your tax position
- More confidence that your software and processes are MTD-ready
- More time to resolve issues before quarterly updates begin
Frequently asked questions
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax changes how affected sole traders and landlords keep records and report information to HMRC. Those within the rules will need to keep digital records, use compatible software and submit quarterly updates alongside their year-end tax return.
MTD for Income Tax applies to sole traders and landlords whose qualifying income from self-employment and property is above the relevant threshold. Affinia can review your income sources and confirm when the requirements are likely to apply to you.
The requirements are being introduced in stages. They apply from 6 April 2026 for qualifying income over £50,000, from 6 April 2027 for qualifying income over £30,000 and from 6 April 2028 for qualifying income over £20,000.
The thresholds are based on qualifying income from self-employment and property. The relevant thresholds are over £50,000 from April 2026, over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028.
MTD for Income Tax can apply to landlords whose qualifying property and self-employment income is above the relevant threshold.
MTD for Income Tax can apply to sole traders and self-employed people whose qualifying income is above the relevant threshold.
Income from self-employment and property may need to be considered together when determining whether you are above the relevant MTD threshold. Affinia can review your different income sources and explain your likely start date.
You will need compatible software that supports the relevant MTD record-keeping and reporting requirements. Affinia can recommend and configure a setup that reflects how you currently manage your finances.
Spreadsheets may remain part of your record-keeping process where they are used alongside an appropriate digitally linked solution. Affinia can assess whether bridging software is suitable or whether moving to cloud accounting would make the process easier.
Yes. Affinia can review your self-employment and property income, explain which thresholds are relevant and confirm when you are likely to need to start using MTD.
Yes. Affinia can recommend suitable software, help configure your account and bank feeds, establish income and expense categories and put a practical digital record-keeping process in place.
Yes. Affinia can help prepare and review quarterly updates, keep your digital records organised and support you with your year-end Self Assessment tax return.
Meet your Making Tax Digital specialists
MTD affects how you keep records, choose software and prepare tax information throughout the year. Our tax and accounting specialists can help you understand what needs to change and put a practical plan in place.
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Making Tax Digital insights
Explore practical guidance on Making Tax Digital, digital record keeping, software and quarterly updates.
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