Free readiness check

Will Making Tax Digital apply to you — and when?

Answer four quick questions to see, based on HMRC’s currently-announced timeline, roughly when Making Tax Digital for Income Tax could apply to you, plus a simple readiness checklist. Informational only — not tax advice.

  • Free readiness check
  • No account needed
  • For UK sole traders & landlords
  • Takes under a minute

Informational only — not tax advice. Based on HMRC’s currently-announced Making Tax Digital timelines, which can change — check HMRC. Income thresholds align with England, Wales & Northern Ireland 2025/26 rates (not Scotland-specific). This is a planning aid, not a substitute for HMRC guidance or an accountant.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is currently aimed at self-employed people and landlords.

Combined turnover from self-employment and property, before expenses.

For example a spreadsheet or bookkeeping app, rather than paper or memory.

Software that can send quarterly updates to HMRC. Not sure counts as no for this check.

Example answers shown to get you started — change them above to match your situation and this updates instantly.

Your readiness check

April 2026

the date Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is currently announced to apply, based on your answers

What this means

Based on your answers, with qualifying income over £50,000, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is currently announced to apply to you from April 2026. You said you do not yet keep digital records or use compatible software, so those are sensible places to start ahead of the deadline. This is informational only — check HMRC for the details, and remember the timeline can change.

What being on Making Tax Digital involves

  • Keep digital records of your income and expenses
  • Use MTD-compatible software
  • Send quarterly updates to HMRC
  • File a year-end final declaration

This is a quick readiness check to help you plan — informational only, not tax advice. It uses HMRC's currently-announced Making Tax Digital timelines, which can change. Check HMRC (or an accountant) for the rules that apply to your own situation.

Get your record-keeping ready, the simple way.

The LaunchKit MTD Compliance Kit is a practical Excel workbook for keeping your income, expenses and quarterly figures organised — built around Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

See the MTD Compliance Kit

Excel workbook · from £16.99

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What this check does and doesn’t do

  • It uses HMRC’s currently-announced phased timeline only — future phases beyond the announced income bands have no date here.
  • Your qualifying income is taken from the band you pick; the tool does not calculate it from underlying figures.
  • General partnerships, and the precise definition of qualifying income, are out of scope — check HMRC for your own situation.