Making Tax Digital, for sole traders specifically
If your qualifying self-employment income (combined with any property income) is above HMRC's current threshold, you'll need to keep digital records of your business income and expenses and send quarterly updates to HMRC instead of relying on one end-of-year submission — then still complete a year-end declaration to finalise your tax position.
What actually changes for you
The biggest shift isn't the tax you owe — it's the process. Instead of gathering a year's worth of receipts once a year, you keep digital records as you go and send a summary four times a year. See what counts as a digital record for the specifics.
Trades, freelancing, and everything in between
"Sole trader" covers a wide range of work — a plumber invoicing customers directly, a freelance designer billing clients, a courier logging delivery income, someone selling on marketplaces. The MTD mechanics are the same regardless of trade; only the categories of income and expense you're recording will differ.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | Record income and expenses digitally as they happen |
| Each quarter | Send a summary update to HMRC |
| After the tax year ends | Complete your year-end declaration — see our year-end return guide |
Frequently asked
Do I need an accountant to comply?
Not necessarily — MTD is designed to work with compatible software rather than requiring professional filing on your behalf, though many sole traders still choose to work with one for wider tax advice.
What if I have more than one self-employed business?
HMRC generally combines income across your self-employment sources when assessing your qualifying income and reporting obligations — confirm the specifics for your situation via HMRC's guidance.
Does this replace my Self Assessment return entirely?
No — quarterly updates sit alongside your year-end obligations, they don't remove them. See our year-end return guide for the distinction.
Read HMRC's official guidance ↗
Everyday-language recording, built around real self-employment work.
Built for how sole traders actually work.
See how Quarter Day is designed to record your work in plain English, then join the waiting list.
No payment. No tax details. Just a heads-up.
Joining the waiting list does not create a software account or commit you to a subscription. Earlier email opt-outs remain in place.
While you're here, explore how it will work or read our Making Tax Digital guide.