11/10/2026
The tax return you send in this winter decides whether Making Tax Digital applies to you from next April.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax started in April for sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000. From April 2027 the line drops to £30,000.
HMRC decides who’s in by looking at your 2025/26 tax return, the one due by 31 January. If your self-employment and rental income comes to more than £30,000 before expenses, you’ll need to keep digital records and send HMRC an update every 3 months.
What that means for you:
📱 Your records need to live in software HMRC accepts, so a paper diary won’t do
📆 You’ll send 4 quarterly updates a year, on top of the usual return
💷 It’s your turnover that counts, before any costs come off
⏳ From April 2028 it drops again, to £20,000
If you’re getting close to £30,000, spend the autumn getting your bookkeeping into a proper app. It’s a much easier change to make now than in March. Comment the word READY if this is something you're looking for support with.