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Spotlight on: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax What sole traders and landlords must do before April 2026 Making Tax Digital for income tax (MTD IT) stops being a future problem and becomes a real one from 6 April 2026 for many sole traders and landlords. It will change how you keep records, how often you report to HMRC, and how you plan for tax through the year. The timetable and income thresholds are now confirmed. The Autumn Budget 2025 didn’t delay the start date, but it did soften parts of the penalty regime to make the transition more manageable. This post sets out who must join in April 2026 , what MTD IT actually involves in practice, and the steps worth taking now so you’re not trying to adapt at the last minute. MTD IT in a nutshell MTD IT changes how sole traders and landlords report income to HMRC. Instead of keeping paper records and filing one Self Assessment return a year, you will: keep digital records of income and expenses send quarterly summary updates to HMRC using compatible software make end-of-year adjustments and submit a final declaration through that same software HMRC decides when you must join MTD based on your qualifying income , which is your total gross income from self-employment and property before expenses or tax . Official figures show that in 2023/24 around 7 million people in Self Assessment had self-employment or landlord income. About 2.9 million of those had qualifying income above £20,000 and are expected to join MTD IT between 2026 and 2028. MTD does not mean five full tax returns a year. Quarterly updates are simple summaries pulled from your records. You still finalise your tax position once a year. Who must join — and when MTD IT applies to individuals filing Self Assessment who have qualifying income from self-employment and/or property above the relevant thresholds. The confirmed rules are: From 6 April 2026 You must use MTD-compatible software if your qualifying income exceeded £50,000 in the 2024/25 tax year. From 6 April 2027 The requirement extends to those with qualifying income above £30,000 in the 2025/26 tax year. From 6 April 2028 It is planned to extend to those with qualifying income above £20,000 in the 2026/27 tax year. HMRC will look at your most recent Self Assessment return, total your self-employment turnover and rental income , and use that to decide your start date. Employment income, pensions and savings interest do not count towards these thresholds. Based on 2023/24 data: about 864,000 people are expected to join from April 2026 around 1,077,000 from April 2027 around 975,000 from April 2028 If your qualifying income later drops below £30,000, current guidance suggests you remain within MTD unless HMRC confirms otherwise. It’s best to treat this as a long-term change. What changes for sole traders If you’re a sole trader above the threshold, MTD changes how you work during the year. You will need to: keep digital records of all income and expenses send four quarterly updates per tax year for each sole-trader business make accounting and tax adjustments in an end-of-period statement submit a final declaration by 31 January , as now You will still: register for Self Assessment as normal pay income tax and Class 2/4 NICs under existing rules for 2025/26 manage payments on account and balancing payments If you run more than one sole-trader business , you must keep separate records and send separate quarterly updates for each one. What changes for landlords Landlords above the threshold will also need to move to digital records and quarterly reporting. Key points: digital records are required for rental income and allowable expenses if you’re also a sole trader, rental and trading income are reported separately for jointly owned property, you can report either total figures or just your share in quarterly updates, but all expenses must be included in the year-end position property type doesn’t matter — MTD is driven by income level , not whether a property is furnished or unfurnished Many smaller landlords still use spreadsheets or paper records. Estimates suggest nearly 70% of landlords with one or two properties do this. If you’re in scope from April 2026, now is the time to move onto suitable software. Key dates to be aware of If you’re in the April 2026 group, these are the main milestones: 31 January 2026 – file your 2024/25 Self Assessment as normal 6 April 2026 – MTD IT starts for the 2026/27 tax year 7 August 2026 – first quarterly update due (or calendar-quarter equivalent) 7 November 2026, 7 February 2027, 7 May 2027 – remaining quarterly updates 31 January 2027 – final Self Assessment for 2025/26 filed in the usual way From 2027/28 onwards, the aim is for tax to be finalised directly from software by 31 January using quarterly updates plus year-end adjustments. What the Autumn Budget 2025 changed The Budget confirmed MTD IT will start in April 2026 as planned. No change to thresholds or dates, but some welcome easements: Soft landing on penalties No penalty points for late quarterly updates in the first 12 months (annual returns still count). Extra time before late payment penalties An additional 15 days before late payment penalties apply in year one. Further deferrals and exemptions Some groups remain in standard Self Assessment until at least April 2027, and deputyship cases remain permanently exempt. These changes are designed to ease the transition — not remove the need to be ready. Six practical steps to take now If your qualifying income is above or close to £50,000 , the rest of 2025/26 is your preparation window. 1. Check if you’re in scope Add together: gross self-employment income gross rental income That total decides your MTD start date. 2. Review your records Move away from paper or basic spreadsheets and into MTD-compatible software that suits how you work. 3. Choose your quarterly structure You can use tax-year quarters or calendar quarters — pick what fits your systems best. 4. Clean up existing data Reconcile accounts, tidy categories and remove duplication before you start. 5. Plan for cashflow Quarterly updates give earlier tax estimates — use them to set money aside and avoid surprises. The continued freeze on tax thresholds makes this even more important. 6. Consider early sign-up Joining the pilot early can help you learn the process with fewer consequences, though software options are still evolving. Get MTD-ready MTD IT is no longer theoretical. The rules, dates and thresholds are set, and April 2026 is happening. If you’re a sole trader or landlord with qualifying income above £50,000, now is the time to: confirm whether you’re in scope choose suitable software tidy records plan for quarterly reporting Doing this calmly now will make the transition far less stressful. If you’ve got questions about how MTD applies to you, or you want help getting set up properly, I'm only a call or email away.
National Living Wage and Minimum Wage Set to Rise from April 2026: What Employers and Workers Need to Know The UK government has confirmed the new minimum wage rates that will apply from 1 April 2026 , with significant increases across most age groups. These changes are important for employers to plan for and for workers to understand how their earnings will be affected. Key Rate Changes from 1 April 2026 📈 National Living Wage (NLW) For workers aged 21 and over , the NLW increases by 4.1% to £12.71 per hour . This change is projected to benefit around 2.4 million low-paid workers , boosting the annual income of a full-time worker on the NLW by around £900 . 💷 National Minimum Wage (NMW) 18–20-year-olds: increases by 8.5% to £10.85 per hour , worth around £1,500 more a year for a full-time worker. 16–17-year-olds and apprentices: increase by 6% to £8.00 per hour . The 18–20 rate continues the government’s long-term plan to narrow the gap with the adult rate, working towards a future where a single adult rate applies to all workers aged 18 and over. Why This Matters Now These changes reflect the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission , and the government has accepted them in full. While the headline increase for the NLW is moderate compared to recent years, younger workers see proportionally larger uplifts in their pay rates. For employers, updating payroll systems and employment contracts well in advance is essential to ensure compliance from April. Broader Context: Cost Pressures on Business While worker organisations have welcomed the rise, there is wider economic context that matters to employers. For example: Recent increases in employers’ National Insurance contributions and higher energy costs are already squeezing business budgets. Some employers, particularly in tight-margin sectors like retail, are reporting challenges balancing pay costs with operational sustainability. These factors mean that wage increases, though positive for workers, require careful planning by business leaders. Looking Ahead With these rates locked in from 1 April 2026 , now is a good time for employers to review their staffing budgets and for employees to understand how their take-home earnings will change. Whether you’re managing payroll, thinking about recruitment, or planning for business growth, these statutory wage changes should be on your radar. 👉 Talk to us about your staff costs and how to plan for these and other upcoming business impacts.
What you need to know about compliance Preparing for an audit is rarely anyone’s favourite task, but it is part of running a resilient and well-managed business. With HM Revenue & Customs under continued pressure to close the tax gap, audits and compliance checks are not going away. In 2024/25 alone, HMRC completed around 316,000 compliance checks and continues to invest heavily in new staff and data-led technology. Against this backdrop, business owners should expect ongoing scrutiny — not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because HMRC’s approach is increasingly proactive and risk-based. This guide explains what a “business audit” means in practice, how the current compliance environment affects you, and what you can do to ensure any audit or review runs as smoothly as possible. Why audits and compliance matter in 2025/26 Recent government data shows that small businesses now account for the largest share of the tax gap by customer group — around 60% in 2023/24. Common causes include simple errors, poor record keeping and failure to take reasonable care. HMRC’s response has been twofold: Preventative measures , such as nudges, education and early interventions Traditional inquiries , backed by better data matching and analytics Preventative compliance now accounts for around 41% of HMRC’s compliance yield, up from 29% in 2020/21. Overall compliance yield reached an estimated £48bn in 2024/25, with every £1 spent on compliance generating around £23 for the Exchequer. For business owners, this reinforces the value of strong internal controls, good governance and up-to-date accounting and tax records. What we mean by a “business audit” Clients often use the word “audit” to describe any in-depth review of their figures, but there are several distinct processes. Statutory financial audit A regulated review of annual accounts under the Companies Act . Auditors assess whether the accounts give a true and fair view and comply with UK GAAP or IFRS. HMRC compliance check or tax inquiry A review of one or more taxes — such as corporation tax, VAT, PAYE or R&D relief. HMRC may request explanations, records and supporting documents and can amend returns if errors are identified. Other audits and reviews Lenders, investors, regulators or group parents may request reviews ranging from agreed-upon procedures to a full internal audit. This article focuses on statutory audits and HMRC compliance checks, as these affect most companies. Who needs a statutory audit? For financial years beginning on or after 6 April 2025, a private limited company may qualify for audit exemption if it meets at least two of the following: Turnover of no more than £15m Assets of no more than £7.5m 50 or fewer employees Even where these thresholds are met, an audit is still required if the company is, for example, a public company, part of a non-qualifying group, carries out regulated activities, or has shares traded on a regulated market. An audit may also be requested by shareholders holding at least 10% of shares, or required by lenders or potential buyers as part of due diligence. HMRC compliance checks and tax inquiries HMRC compliance checks are now a routine feature of the tax system. In 2024/25, HMRC completed around 316,000 checks across all customer groups. Key points include: The overall tax gap for 2023/24 was £46.8bn (5.3%) Corporation tax now accounts for around 40% of the tax gap by tax type HMRC reviewed nearly 16% of R&D tax relief claims in 2023/24 HMRC uses data analytics and third-party information to identify inconsistencies, such as: Dividends that appear high compared to profits VAT returns that don’t align with accounts or sector norms PAYE or CIS data suggesting employment status risks Large or unusual relief claims A compliance check does not automatically imply wrongdoing, but it does require careful handling. Getting audit-ready: practical steps Whether you’re facing a statutory audit or a potential HMRC inquiry, preparation makes a real difference. Key habits include: Keeping complete and timely digital records Reconciling bank, VAT, PAYE and control accounts regularly Documenting key judgments and estimates Reviewing director remuneration and dividends carefully Maintaining clear tax working papers and computations These steps reduce disruption, speed up reviews and minimise the risk of misunderstandings. What to expect during an audit or HMRC check A statutory audit usually follows a clear process: planning, information requests, testing, discussion of findings and final reporting. An HMRC compliance check typically starts with a letter outlining the scope, information required and response deadlines. HMRC may review specific aspects or carry out a full inquiry. Responding promptly, providing clear evidence and keeping detailed records of correspondence all help keep the process under control. The 2025/26 tax year brings relatively stable rules but rising scrutiny. While audit exemption thresholds have increased, HMRC’s focus on the tax gap means more attention on small and mid-sized businesses. You can’t eliminate the chance of an audit or inquiry, but you can control how prepared you are. Consistent records, clear documentation and regular reviews put you in a strong position if questions arise. Preparing for an audit? We can help.
