MTD Is Now a Legal Requirement. Here Is How to Stay Compliant Without the Stress
Making Tax Digital for Sole Traders became mandatory from 6 April 2026 if your income from self-employment or property exceeded £50,000 in the 2024-25 tax year.
If you are not yet keeping digital records or submitting quarterly updates to HMRC, you are already behind. I can get you compliant quickly, handle your submissions ongoing, and make sure you never miss a deadline.
Are you actually MTD compliant?
Four questions. Takes about 60 seconds. Find out where you stand right now.
Did your income from self-employment or property exceed £50,000 in the 2024-25 tax year?
Are you currently keeping your business income and expense records in digital software?
Do you have MTD-compatible software in place and connected to HMRC?
Do you know when your first quarterly update to HMRC is due?
You are not yet compliant and the clock is running
Based on your answers, you are not yet meeting your MTD obligations. The deadline for sole traders earning over £50,000 was 6 April 2026. There is a 12-month grace period on penalty points, which means acting now still gives you time to get set up properly before fines kick in. The practical steps are straightforward with the right support in place.
You have made a start, but there are gaps to fix
You are aware of MTD and have taken some steps, but your setup is not complete. Partial compliance is still non-compliance in HMRC’s eyes. Getting your software connected, your records in order, and your quarterly submissions scheduled is a finite piece of work. It is worth getting it done properly rather than hoping it will sort itself out.
You are in a strong position. Keep it that way.
Your MTD foundations look solid. The ongoing requirement is four quarterly updates per year plus a final declaration. If you want someone to handle those submissions on your behalf so you can focus on your actual work, that is exactly what I do for sole traders across Suffolk.
Services built around MTD compliance for sole traders
Everything you need to meet your MTD obligations, handled personally by me.
MTD-Compatible Digital Bookkeeping
I keep your income and expense records up to date in Xero throughout the year, so your books are always in the right format for MTD submissions. You never have to scramble for records at quarter-end because everything is already in order.
Ongoing BookkeepingQuarterly HMRC Submissions
MTD for Income Tax requires four quarterly updates to HMRC each year, plus a year-end final declaration. I prepare and submit all of these on your behalf so you have nothing to chase and no deadlines to miss.
Quarterly UpdatesXero Setup and MTD Registration
If you are not yet on Xero or have not registered with HMRC for MTD, I handle the setup from scratch. As a Xero Expert, I get your account configured correctly for MTD from day one and show you what you need to do on your side to keep it running.
Xero and MTD SetupWhy working with me is different from going it alone
MTD adds a real administrative layer to running a sole trader business. These are the practical reasons my clients hand it over rather than manage it themselves.
You deal with me, not a support team
There is no team here. Every client works directly with me, which means you get a consistent answer from someone who actually knows your numbers. When you have a question about your MTD submission or a deadline, you contact me and I respond.
Fixed pricing you can plan around
My pricing starts from £25 per month and is fixed, so you always know what you are paying. There are no surprise invoices at year-end and no separate charge every time I file a quarterly update on your behalf.
Compliant from day one with no gaps
I am Xero-certified and MTD-compliant. When I set up your bookkeeping, it is structured to meet HMRC’s digital record-keeping requirements from the outset. You are not retrofitting your records later to fix a compliance problem.
What clients say
How we get you MTD compliant
A straightforward four-step process from first contact to fully compliant.
Book a free call
We start with a free call where I find out where you currently stand with your records, whether you are already using software, and what your income looks like. There is no obligation and no jargon. By the end of the call you will know exactly what needs doing.
Set up Xero and register for MTD
I set up or connect your Xero account and register you with HMRC for MTD for Income Tax. If you already have software in place, I review it and make sure it is correctly configured. This stage removes every technical barrier to compliance.
Get your records in order
I bring your bookkeeping up to date in Xero and put a system in place to keep it current going forward. Your records are kept in the digital format HMRC requires, without you having to think about it.
Handle your quarterly submissions ongoing
Each quarter I prepare and submit your update to HMRC on your behalf. You will hear from me ahead of each deadline so you always know what is happening. At year-end I handle the final declaration too.
Choose your next step
Pick the option that matches where you are right now.
Common questions about Making Tax Digital for Sole Traders
Related services and areas covered
Reliable, accurate, and local. Acme Accounting Services provides a full suite of accounting services to small businesses in Ipswich, Suffolk and beyond.
💛 5% of revenue donated to St. Elizabeth’s Hospice, Ipswich.