The technical team are always interested in receiving feedback from members on all aspects of MTD for Income Tax and hearing about their practical experiences. Please email your information to us.
Please use the menu below to access the latest information on MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA).
- Latest News
- What is MTD for Income Tax?
- Timetable for MTD for Income tax
- Exemptions from MTD for Income Tax
- Reporting requirements
- Agent Services Account (ASA)
- HMRC Pilot
- Legislation
- Further information and guidance
Latest News
Autumn Statement 2024 MTD announcements
At the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, the Government made a clear commitment to delivering MTD for ITSA.
It also confirmed that the first taxpayers to join MTD for ITSA will be those with income from trading and property of over £50,000, who will be required to join in April 2026. Those with income between £30,000 and £50,000 will then join a year later in April 2027 (see Timetable for MTD for Income Tax below).
In a surprise move, a commitment was also made to expand MTD for ITSA to those with income over £20,000 by the end of this Parliament, with the precise timing to be set out at a future fiscal statement.
Free MTD webinar for ATT members
On 3 October 2024 we hosted a free webinar for ATT members: Making Tax Digital – how to get you and your clients ready.
Our speakers were ATT Technical Officer Emma Rawson, and Chris Jennings and Sam Wood from HMRC's MTD team. You can access a recording of this webinar here: https://www.presenta.co.uk/ATT/MTD/031024/index.html (password: WR78CB53).
New interactive HMRC checker tool launched
HMRC have launched a new interactive Making Tax Digital (MTD) tool: Check if you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD ITSA) becomes mandatory for the first taxpayers from April 2026. The new tool is intended to make it simpler for taxpayers (and their agents) to understand if they are in scope of MTD ITSA and, if so, when they need to start complying with the requirements.
You can find more information about the tool here.
Updated regulations and notice published
On 22 February 2024, the Income Tax (Digital Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 were laid before Parliament. These regulations amend the existing Income Tax (Digital Requirements) Regulations 2021to reflect the changes to the timetable for MTD for ITSA originally announced in December 2022 and the Autumn Statement 2023 changes (see below).
Alongside these, HMRC also published an Update Notice which provides more information as to what should be included in quarterly updates under MTD for ITSA.
Autumn Statement 2023 announcements
At the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, the outcome of HMRC's 'Small Business Review' was announced. This confirmed that MTD for ITSA would not be extended to landlords and sole traders with income under £30,000 at this time. However, the Government will keep this decision under review, and there remains the possibility that this population will be brought into MTD for ITSA at some point in the future.
Other announcements made in relation to MTD for ITSA included:
- Quarterly updates will move to a cumulative basis, allowing errors to be corrected as part of the following update and removing the need to resubmit previous quarters.
- The End of Period Statement (EOPS) will be removed as a formal requirement.
- Specific exemptions from MTD for ITSA will be introduced for foster carers, and those without a National Insurance Number.
- Optional easements will apply to jointly let property, with landlords able to choose to only report their income (and not expenses) on quarterly updates and keep simpler digital records.
- HMRC will ensure that taxpayers can be represented by more than one agent under MTD for ITSA.
Updated secondary legislation and notices are expected to be released for consultation shortly, which will contain more detail on the above.
What is MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment?
Under the requirements of MTD for ITSA, individuals who are subject to income tax on the profits of their trade, profession, vocation or property business will be required to keep their accounting records electronically (either using suitable software or on spreadsheet) and file quarterly returns to HMRC with details of their income and expenditure together with any other information that HMRC specifies. A final declaration will then be submitted after the tax year once the individual’s tax affairs have been finalised.
Although the frequency of reporting is to change, the timing of tax payments will not and the current system of payments on account and balancing payment by 31 January after the tax year is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Timetable for MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment
The mandation of MTD for ITSA will be phased, with the exact date dependent on the taxpayer's income:
- From April 2026, self-employed individuals and landlords with an income of more than £50,000 will be mandated into MTD for ITSA.
- Those with an income of between £30,000 and up to £50,000 will be mandated from April 2027.
At the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, it was announced that MTD for ITSA would be expanded to those with income over £20,000 by the end of this Parliament, with the precise timing to be set out at a future fiscal statement.
Although the Government has said they remain committed to extending MTD for ITSA to general partnerships, this will not take place in April 2025 (as originally planned) but from a date yet to be confirmed. All other partnerships (e.g. those that have corporate partners and Limited Liability Partnerships) are also expected to be required to join MTD at a future date (to be confirmed).
Exemptions from MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment
Income threshold
As noted above, the roll out of MTD for ITSA will be phased, depending on the level of a taxpayer's income. Self-employed individuals and landlords with income over £50,000 will be mandated into MTD for ITSA from April 2026, with those with income between £30,000 and £50,000 mandated from April 2027. Those with income between £20,000 and £30,000 will also be brought into MTD for ITSA during the current Parliament, but it is not yet known exactly when.
More information on how we understand the £30,000 and £50,000 income thresholds will work in practice can be found in our technical article How does the income exemption work for MTD for ITSA?
Digital exclusion
In line with the exemptions for MTD for VAT, individuals should not have to follow the MTD for Income tax rules if any of the following apply:
- It’s not reasonably practicable for them to use digital tools to keep their business records or submit quarterly returns due to age, disability, remoteness of location or any other reason (often referred to as ‘digital exclusion’).
- They are subject to an insolvency procedure.
- The business is run entirely by practising members of a religious society or order whose beliefs are incompatible with using electronic communications or keeping electronic records.
Where any of the above apply, the individual has to apply to HMRC to claim an exemption, with HMRC having 28 days to either grant or deny the application.
We understand that where a business has already qualified for an exemption from MTD for VAT, they will also be exempt from MTD for ITSA.
Other exemptions
The following are also exempt from MTD for ITSA:
- Non-resident companies
- Trustees, executors and administrators
- Foreign businesses of non-UK domiciled individuals
- Foster carers
- Those with no National Insurance Number
Reporting requirements
Quarterly updates
All businesses within MTD for ITSA will have to provide quarterly updates of their income and expenses. These quarterly updates will be cumulative, and cover the following periods, with the following deadlines, regardless of the accounting period end of the business:
| Period covered | Filing deadline | |
| Quarterly update 1 | 6 April to 5 July | 7 August |
| Quarterly update 2 | 6 April to 5 October | 7 November |
| Quarterly update 3 | 6 April to 5 January | 7 February |
| Quarterly update 4 | 6 April to 5 April | 7 May |
Alternatively, businesses can make a 'calendar quarter election' which allows them to draw up quarterly updates to the end of the previous month. Where this election is made, the quarterly updates will be as follows:
| Period covered | Filing deadline | |
| Quarterly update 1 | 1 April to 30 June | 7 August |
| Quarterly update 2 | 1 April to 30 September | 7 November |
| Quarterly update 3 | 1 April to 31 December | 7 February |
| Quarterly update 4 | 1 April to 31 March | 7 May |
The first quarterly updates under MTD for ITSA will therefore be due for filing by 7 August 2026, and will cover either the quarter ended 5 July 2026, or 30 June 2026 (where a calendar quarter election is in place).
Separate quarterly updates will be required for each trade or property business carried on by an individual. There is no requirement to make tax or accounting adjustments to the information provided in quarterly updates.
An Update Notice published on 22 February 2024 sets out the categories of income and expenses which will need to be reported in the quarterly updates. This also confirms that, where a business has an annual turnover below the VAT registration threshold, it may choose to provide the total of all income and the total of all expenses in the quarter, instead of the totals of the amounts falling within each category of transaction. Retailers can also opt to record their daily gross takings, rather than each individual sale they make.
At the Autumn Statement 2023, it was announced that relaxed reporting requirements would apply for joint property owners, who can choose to only report their share of the property income (and not expenses) in their quarterly updates. Further information on this relaxation is expected later this year in the form of a Joint Property Notice. A draft of this notice was published for consultation in December 2023.
End of Period Statement (EOPS)
The EOPS was intended to perform a similar role to the self-employment or property pages on the current ITSA return - i.e. making the required tax and accounting adjustments and finalising the tax position of the trade or business.
At the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, it was announced that the EOPS would be removed as a formal requirement. Instead, this process will be rolled into the Final Declaration.
Final declaration
The Final Declaration will bring together all business and personal information needed to determine the final tax liability, including information from MTD sources of income (e.g. trading and property income) and non-MTD sources of income (e.g. dividends and interest), allowances and reliefs.
Only a single final declaration will be required for each taxpayer. This will be due by the normal self-assessment deadline of 31 January following the relevant tax year.
Agent Services Account (ASA)
In order to access MTD services and to supply updates on behalf of clients, agents need an Agent Services Account (ASA). This is in effect a new Government Gateway to access the new service. Each agency will have just one ASA per firm, and will be able to set up staff with administrator or assistant access to the account. Many firms may already have created an ASA in order to submit MTD for VAT returns or Trust Registration Service returns.
A basic outline of the ASA and how to set one up can be found here.
HMRC publish details of any down time for maintenance or service issues.
HMRC Pilot
HMRC are currently running pilot testing of MTD for ITSA. This pilot was extended in April 2024, when it entered a wider 'private beta' phase.
Agents can sign up their clients for the pilot directly via GOV.UK. They should however first check that their client is eligible, that they have suitable software in place, and that their software provider can support them through the pilot.
Not all taxpayers will be eligible to join the pilot in 2024-25. In particular, to take part they will need to have a 5 April year-end (or 31 March where there software can support this). Certain other taxpayers, such as those subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) or who have income from jointly owned property or a partnership are also excluded. A full list of those excluded is available on GOV.UK. It is expected that many of the taxpayers excluded this year will be able to join the pilot when it expands further in April 2025.
The current list of compatible software products is set out on GOV.UK We understand that there are a number of other products at various stages of development and HMRC have said that they will continue to add to this page as new products become available. Those looking to join the pilot should speak to their software provider before signing up to confirm that they are able to join.
Legislation
Enabling primary legislation for MTD for businesses for Income Tax was included in Sections 60 to 61 and Schedule 14 of Finance (No.2) Act 2017. The explanatory notes to the original Bill can be found here.
Regulations setting out more details on MTD for ITSA were laid on 23 September 2021. These regulations are amended by the Income Tax (Digital Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 which were laid on 22 February 2024.
On 7 December 2023, HMRC published further draft legislation for consultation. This includes regulations to amend the original regulations on MTD for ITSA (laid on 23 September 2021) and tertiary legislation comprising a software notice, joint property owners notice and update notice. Following that consultation, a final Update Notice has been published, with final version of the remaining notices expected to be released later this year.
Further information and guidance
Software
Individuals within MTD for Income tax will be required to use software to keep their records and submit returns to HMRC via their Application Programming Interface (API).
There are essentially three different types of MTD compliant software:
- Software packages that can be used to keep digital records and file returns via HMRC’s API.
- API enabled spreadsheets – spreadsheets with an inbuilt function allowing them to file returns via HMRC’s API.
- Bridging software which can take return information from an existing spreadsheet and submit this to HMRC via their API.
Where a spreadsheet is used, the relevant data must be digitally transmitted from the spreadsheet or other source where the digital records are kept, directly to HMRC. The summary information for completion of the quarterly and final returns must not be physically re-typed into another software package.
The current list of MTD compatible software for income tax is here.
Other information and guidance
HMRC's guidance on MTD for ITSA can be accessed from its collection page.
HMRC have also produced a Making Tax Digital for Business – stakeholder communications pack which contains a variety of information for both Income tax and VAT, including some frequently asked questions.
ATT technical officer Emma Rawson has written an article for Tax Adviser on how agents can get ready for MTD for ITSA.
A recording of a free webinar for ATT members which was originally presented on Thursday 3 October can be accessed here: https://www.presenta.co.uk/ATT/MTD/031024/index.html (password: WR78CB53).