Making Tax Digital: Are You Ready for the 2026 Deadline?
From April 2026, if you earn over £50,000 from self-employment or rental property, you’ll have to submit quarterly tax updates to HMRC under the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules.
It’s one of the biggest shifts in tax since Self Assessment began.
What’s Changing?
Right now, you file one Self Assessment a year. Under MTD, you’ll need to:
– Keep digital records using MTD-compliant software
– Submit quarterly updates of income and expenses
– File an end-of-year digital return
More changes:
– From April 2027: Anyone earning over £30,000 must comply
– By 2028: Those earning over £20,000 will also be included
It doesn’t matter if you’re a small business, landlord, or side-hustler — if your total turnover crosses these thresholds, you’re in.
Why It Matters
– More admin — you’ll be reporting 5 times a year, not just once
– New software costs — spreadsheets alone won’t cut it unless linked to bridging software
– HMRC penalties — miss deadlines, and fines kick in under the new points-based system
It’s not all bad though. Done right, MTD can actually:
– Give you better cashflow visibility
– Stop the January panic
– Help you spot issues before they become big problems
How to Get Ready Now
1. Start keeping your records digitally — don’t wait
2. Test simple cloud bookkeeping tools (we can suggest a few)
3. Join HMRC’s pilot programme — no penalties while you’re learning
GET FREE CONSULTATION
Local Tip
Most sole traders and landlords in Rochdale and surrounding areas aren’t ready for this yet. Beat the rush — and avoid the HMRC helpline queues in 2026.
Need Help?
We’re already helping businesses and landlords around Rochdale get MTD-ready — without the headaches. Drop us a line today for a free MTD check-in.
