MTD for Income Tax Is Here: What Accounting Firms Need to Do Right Now

A New Era for Personal Tax Has Arrived

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is no longer on the horizon. Phase One became mandatory from 6 April 2026, bringing with it the biggest change to personal tax compliance the UK has seen in a generation. For accounting firms, this is both a significant challenge and a genuine opportunity to demonstrate your value to clients who are navigating unfamiliar territory.

If you have sole trader or landlord clients with gross qualifying income above £50,000, they are already in scope. And with Phase Two arriving in April 2027 for those earning above £30,000, and Phase Three in April 2028 for those earning above £20,000, the window for preparation is narrowing fast. The time to act is now.

What MTD IT Actually Requires

Under MTD IT, affected clients must meet three core obligations that replace the traditional annual Self Assessment tax return cycle:

• Digital record keeping: Paper records are no longer acceptable. Income and expenses must be maintained digitally using HMRC-recognised software or a spreadsheet linked to bridging software.
• Quarterly updates: Clients must submit a summary of their business or property income and expenses to HMRC four times a year, aligned to the tax year.
• End of Period Statement and Final Declaration: At the end of the tax year, clients must confirm the accuracy of their figures and submit a Final Declaration that brings together all income sources to calculate their total tax liability.

The annual deadline for the End of Period Statement and Final Declaration remains 31 January following the end of the tax year. Missing quarterly submission deadlines triggers a points-based penalty system, where four points result in a £200 fine. Late payment penalties are tiered and begin accruing from day 16 after the payment due date.

Who Is In Scope Right Now

Phase One captures sole traders and landlords whose qualifying income for the 2024/25 tax year exceeded £50,000. Qualifying income means gross income from self-employment and property rental combined, before expenses. It does not include PAYE wages, dividends, pensions, or investment income.

To illustrate: a freelance consultant earning £35,000 from their trade and £18,000 from a rental property has qualifying income of £53,000 and is in scope for Phase One. A landlord earning £28,000 in rent falls outside Phase One but will be captured by Phase Two from April 2027.

Certain groups are automatically exempt, including trusts, estates, and individuals who are digitally excluded due to age, disability, or lack of internet access. Clients who believe they qualify for an exemption should be directed to check via the HMRC tool and, where required, apply formally.

The Opportunity for Accounting Firms

MTD IT fundamentally changes the rhythm of client engagement. Where the traditional Self Assessment model concentrated work into a single annual cycle, MTD IT creates four touchpoints per year plus a final declaration. This shift has significant implications for how firms price, staff, and communicate with clients.

Forward-thinking practices are already using this transition to:

• Review their pricing models to reflect the increased frequency of work and move away from one-off annual fees towards monthly or quarterly retainers.
• Segment their client base by qualifying income level so they can plan capacity ahead of each phase deadline.
• Strengthen client relationships by positioning themselves as trusted advisers who proactively guide clients through a complex change, rather than reactive compliance processors.
• Identify upsell opportunities by offering bookkeeping support, software setup assistance, and ongoing quarterly review services to clients who lack the confidence or capability to manage digital records themselves.

Practical Steps to Take With Your Clients

Whether you are working through your Phase One clients now or preparing your Phase Two cohort for 2027, a structured approach will save time and reduce last-minute pressure.

• Audit your client list: Identify every client who is a sole trader or landlord and calculate their qualifying income for the relevant assessment year. Flag those who are in scope now and those who will be in scope next year.
• Communicate early and clearly: Many clients will not fully understand what MTD IT means for them. A plain-language letter or email explaining the new obligations, their personal start date, and what you will be doing on their behalf goes a long way towards reducing anxiety and building trust.
• Agree on software: Clients need HMRC-recognised software to comply. Review the options with them, help them get set up, and ensure they understand the basics of digital record keeping. If they are not confident doing this themselves, consider offering a managed service.
• Set up quarterly workflows: MTD IT requires a consistent quarterly cadence. Build this into your practice management system so that deadlines are tracked, reminders are automated, and no client falls through the cracks.
• Review engagement letters: Ensure your terms of engagement accurately reflect the new scope of work and that fee arrangements have been updated accordingly.

Choosing the Right Software for Your Practice

The software your practice uses to file on behalf of clients must be HMRC-recognised and capable of handling quarterly submissions, End of Period Statements, and Final Declarations. It also needs to integrate smoothly with the bookkeeping tools your clients use day to day, whether that is Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or another platform.

TaxCalc's MTD Quarterly Filer is built specifically for accounting practices managing MTD IT on behalf of clients. It connects directly with HMRC's systems, supports the full MTD IT filing journey, and integrates with TaxCalc's wider suite of tax return production and practice management tools. This means your team can manage quarterly obligations, end of year filings, and client communications from a single platform, without the duplication and manual rekeying that slows practices down.

Looking Ahead: Phases Two and Three

With Phase One now live, attention is already turning to Phase Two. Clients with qualifying income above £30,000 for the 2025/26 tax year will need to comply from 6 April 2027. Phase Three, covering those with income above £20,000 for the 2026/27 tax year, follows in April 2028.

Partnerships are also expected to be brought into the MTD IT regime at a future date, though HMRC has not yet confirmed a timeline. Practices with partnership clients should keep a close eye on announcements and begin preparing their clients for this change in due course.

The phased rollout means the volume of affected clients will grow substantially over the next two years. Practices that build scalable MTD IT workflows now, rather than scrambling to catch up with each new phase, will be far better placed to absorb the additional workload without compromising quality or client service.

Summary: Key Dates to Keep Front of Mind

• 6 April 2026: Phase One mandatory for qualifying income over £50,000 (assessed on 2024/25 tax year).
• 6 April 2027: Phase Two mandatory for qualifying income over £30,000 (assessed on 2025/26 tax year).
• 6 April 2028: Phase Three mandatory for qualifying income over £20,000 (assessed on 2026/27 tax year).
• 31 January annually: Deadline for End of Period Statement and Final Declaration.

MTD IT is not a future concern. It is a present reality. The practices that embrace it as a catalyst for stronger client relationships, better workflows, and more sustainable fee structures will be the ones that come out ahead. If you would like to see how TaxCalc can help your practice manage the MTD IT journey, take a free trial today.