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MTD ITSA: The Complete Sole Trader Guide
Everything you need to comply with HMRC's quarterly filing rules from April 2026.
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Resources
The Complete MTD Guide for UK Sole Traders
Plain-English answers to the questions every sole trader is asking about Making Tax Digital.
MTD Deadline: April 2026
If your self-employment or property income is above £50,000, you must comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) from 6 April 2026 — quarterly digital filing becomes mandatory.
The MTD timeline
April 2026
Income above £50,000
April 2027
Income above £30,000
April 2028
All self-employed
5 steps to MTD-ready
1
Confirm your obligation
Check your latest self-assessment income. Above £50K of self-employment + property income? You're in the April 2026 cohort.
2
Get MTD-compatible software
HMRC requires you to keep digital records and submit through approved software. CLARIVANCE AI is built to qualify.
3
Connect your bank and accounting tools
Open Banking + Xero/QuickBooks integration means your records stay current automatically.
4
File your first quarterly update
After 6 April 2026, you'll submit four quarterly summaries plus a final declaration. We file them in one click.
5
Ring-fence tax as you earn
The biggest cause of tax shocks isn't the tax itself — it's spending the money before it's owed. TaxShield™ holds it back automatically.
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Read the guides
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How to Build a 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast
The single most important spreadsheet you'll ever build — and how to do it in an afternoon.
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Why UK Sole Traders Get Surprised by Their Tax Bill
The four mental models that lead to year-end tax shocks — and how to avoid them.
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Open Banking for Small Businesses
What it is, why it's safe, and how it can save you 4 hours a week of manual data entry.
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The Weekly Financial Health Check
A 15-minute Friday routine that will keep your business out of trouble forever.
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What the BFDE Actually Does (Plain English)
Demystifying the Behavioural Financial DNA Engine — without the jargon.
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