ismytaxdigital
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Do I need Making Tax Digital?

For UK sole traders and landlords. Check whether MTD applies to you, see the start date that matters, and get the next step. In one minute, in plain English.

2

questions

60s

typical time

Free

no signup

Last reviewed: 2 May 2026 · Built by Mehmet Demir · Sources: HMRC

Free · UK only · No signup

Get your MTD start date in under a minute

Two questions about your taxpayer type and gross qualifying income. Plain-English verdict, the relevant deadline, and the next step.

  • ✓ Built for UK sole traders and landlords
  • ✓ Based on current HMRC qualifying-income rules
  • ✓ Mixed self-employment and property income? Use the year-precise checker.
Check my MTD start date →

2 questions · ~60 seconds

The 60-second answer

What the checker tells you

Two questions, one tailored verdict. The result includes the relevant start date, what counts toward the threshold, and a calendar file for the deadline that applies to you.

Are you in scope?

A clear yes/no per HMRC's current qualifying-income rules.

Which year does it apply from?

£50k (live), £30k (April 2027), or £20k (April 2028).

What to do next

Practical actions, the relevant guide, and a calendar file for your deadline.

UK only. Making Tax Digital applies to UK taxpayers registered with HMRC. Not UK-based?

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What best describes you?

Select the option that best matches your current tax situation.

Pick your situation

Plain-English guides

Each guide carries the rules that actually apply to your situation, with HMRC source links next to the specific claims.

Sole trader →

Self-employment turnover, multiple businesses, payments on account.

Landlord →

Property income, joint ownership shares, FHL after abolition, foreign property.

Mixed income →

PAYE plus rent, freelance plus rentals, dividends plus a property.

Common MTD questions

The specific eligibility questions that come up the most.

Once you know you're in scope

Pick software, save the deadlines, track changes

Three things move you from "I know I'm in MTD" to actually being ready.

Software comparison →

Filter HMRC-recognised tools by sole trader, landlord, FHL, foreign property, and bridging.

Quarterly deadlines →

Downloadable .ics calendar files for every 2026-27 and 2027-28 deadline.

MTD changelog →

A dated log of HMRC rule changes affecting MTD, with gov.uk sources.

HMRC timeline

Key Making Tax Digital dates

The exact date that matters depends on the tax you file and your qualifying income.

Last reviewed: 2 May 2026

Since April 2022

Live

MTD for VAT

Every VAT-registered business must keep digital records and submit VAT returns through HMRC-compatible software.

HMRC source ↗

Live since 6 Apr 2026

Live

Income above £50,000

Self-employed people and landlords above the first income threshold are now in MTD for Income Tax.

HMRC source ↗+ Add to calendar

6 Apr 2027

Next

Income above £30,000

The rules widen to include the next group of sole traders and landlords.

HMRC source ↗+ Add to calendar

6 Apr 2028

Scheduled

Income above £20,000

The £20,000 threshold extends MTD to a further group of sole traders and landlords from April 2028.

HMRC source ↗+ Add to calendar

For all four quarterly update deadlines (7 Aug / 7 Nov / 7 Feb / 7 May), see the full deadlines page.

Frequently asked

MTD: the questions people actually ask

Do I need Making Tax Digital?v
You need MTD for Income Tax if you are a UK sole trader or landlord with combined gross income (self-employment plus property, before expenses) above one of three thresholds: £50,000 (live since 6 April 2026), £30,000 (from 6 April 2027), or £20,000 (from 6 April 2028). PAYE-only employees are not in scope. VAT-registered businesses have been in MTD for VAT since April 2022.
What income counts toward the threshold?v
Gross self-employment turnover plus gross UK and foreign property rental income, before expenses. Your share of jointly owned property counts, not the property total. PAYE salary, dividends, savings interest, pension income, and capital gains do not count.
When are the quarterly deadlines?v
Standard cycle is 7 August, 7 November, 7 February, and 7 May, plus a final declaration by 31 January after the tax year. Calendar-month quarters are also available and shift each due date by a few days.
What software do I need?v
You need HMRC-recognised software. The full list is on HMRC's software finder. The site keeps a comparison filtered by persona, including landlord-specific tools and bridging software for spreadsheet users.
Is this site official?v
No. IsMyTaxDigital is an independent side project built by Mehmet Demir, a software engineer. It is not affiliated with HMRC or any software vendor. For personal tax advice, please speak to a qualified UK accountant.

Looking for a quick UK tax answer that is not about MTD? The site keeps a small set of other UK tax calculators (Income Tax, SDLT, dividends, CGT, VAT, IHT) as quick utilities.

Report an error

Spotted something off?

If a rule, threshold, or date does not match HMRC's current guidance, please send a note. The site's editorial policy covers how corrections are handled.

Information only

For personal tax advice, please speak to a qualified UK accountant. Messages here go straight to email and are not stored on this site.

Your message is forwarded by email and is not stored on this site. For personal tax advice, please speak to a qualified UK accountant.

Check my MTD start date →