Making Tax Digital

Find out everything you need to know about Making Tax Digital, including how to choose the right cloud accounting software, key deadlines and find out how TBL Accountants can support you move to digital.

What is Making Tax Digital (MTD)?

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs. The initiative is to implement a fully digital tax system in the UK, whereby taxpayers keep digital records and use MTD-compatible software to make tax submissions electronically.

When is Making Tax Digital happening? 

April 2022

All VAT-registered businesses must follow Making Tax Digital rules.

April 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for self-employed business owners and landlords.

April 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for partnerships with individual partners.

2026 Onwards

HMRC will aim to introduce Making Tax Digital for Corporation Tax.

Making Tax Digital
For Self-Employed & Landlords Income Tax

Making Tax Digital
For VAT

Making Tax Digital
For Corporation Tax

Choosing the right cloud accounting software for Making Tax Digital

TBL Accountants are here to help you with your business’s cloud accounting needs. With our cloud accounting services, you can access your accounts from anywhere, at any time, from any device. Whether you want to benefit from the real-time analytics and security cloud accounting offers or managing your business’s compliance with Making Tax Digital (MTD), we can help.

How TBL Accountants can help you with
Making Tax Digital

From helping you choose the right cloud accounting software for the job to answering your tax-related questions, or helping you prepare your tax returns, accountants are best placed to help you and your business succeed with Making Tax Digital. Here at TBL Accountants, our team of experts are trained to ensure your accounts are fully compliant and we are committed to helping local businesses migrate to MTD as easily as possible.

If you are unsure of when your business should be submitting VAT returns, or whether you should have already registered for MTD altogether, we can help you. Get in touch with us and our team will provide the support you need to get started with Making Tax Digital.

Your local Making Tax Digital Specialists
in Essex

TBL Accountants are your local accountancy firm operating in Southend and across Essex. We specialise in a variety of services as personal, business, and charity accountants. Want to find out more? Get in touch with our team today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Making Tax Digital?

Making Tax Digital (MTS) is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs. The initiative is to implement a fully digital tax system in the UK, whereby taxpayers keep digital records and use MTD-compatible software to make tax submissions electronically.

Why is HMRC making tax digital

According to HMRC, Making Tax Digital is designed to “make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs.” Going paperless is also a more sustainable and streamline solution to filing tax returns, with aims to be a more transparent and accurate way of dealing with accounts. 

Is MTD compulsory?

Businesses need to have signed up to Making Tax Digital for their first VAT return starting on or after 1 April 2022. They may not be required to make their first submission via Making Tax Digital until Summer 2022.

Is MTD just for VAT?

Yes, for now. From April 2024, MTD will be rolled out for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA). Businesses and landlords with an annual turnover above £10,000 will need to register for MTD for ITSA from April 2024.

MTD for Corporation Tax will not be mandated before April 2026 at the earliest.

What is the best software for Making Tax Digital?

HMRC will not be making software available, so you will have two options:

1, MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment compliant software that will enable you to report data as per MTD rules

2, Bridging software which works with non-MTD compatible software (such as Spreadsheets) so you can submit the necessary information to HMRC digitally at the end of each quarter and at the end of the year.

Can I be exempt from Making Tax Digital?

There are some exemptions to Making Tax Digital. On the launch of Making Tax Digital, these exemptions were announced “on the basis of digital exclusion”, with factors including:  

  • Disability making using a computer difficult 
  • Problems with access to broadband in rural areas 
  • Religious grounds 

Plus, any business that is already exempt from online filing for VAT will remain so under MTD without having to reapply. There are more details on exemptions here.  

What are the Income Tax filing deadlines for MTD?

MTD for income tax will be effective from 6 April 2024 for all unincorporated businesses i.e. sole traders, partnerships, landlords etc. irrespective of when their current accounting period ends.

You can view the filing deadlines for MTD for income tax here.

What are the VAT filing deadlines for MTD?

Businesses must file their first MTD return for the VAT quarter starting on or after 1 April 2022.

You can view the filing deadlines for MTD for VAT here.

What are the Corporation Tax filing deadlines for MTD?

HMRC will aim to introduce Making Tax Digital for Corporation Tax from April 2026.

You can view the filing deadlines for MTD for VAT here.

What happens if I do not register for MTD?

If you don’t comply with the rules and meet Making Tax Digital deadlines, you could face a fine.

From January 2023, HMRC is moving to a points-based system so that Making Tax Digital for VAT penalties are only given to those who regularly make mistakes and miss deadlines. The new system means taxpayers who make the occasional error will not be penalised.

Points are calculated based on how regularly you submit. You can find more information about penalties here.

How do I register for Making Tax Digital?

If you are a business, you can sign up to Making Tax Digital with your existing government gateway ID, or you can set up a new one if you don’t have an ID. 

Here at TBL Accountants, our team of experts are trained to ensure your accounts are fully compliant and we are committed to helping local businesses migrate to MTD as easily as possible.

Contact us to find out how we can support you with registering for MTD

Still have a question on Making Tax Digital?

Our friendly, experienced team can support you on the road to Making Tax Digital. If you are looking for a reliable accountant or you are an existing client moving to MTD, then get in touch with our team today.