11/05/2026
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – One Month In.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax has now been live for a month.
If you’re already set up, you’ll have been keeping your records up to date — raising your sales invoices promptly and capturing your expenses as you go (even if that’s just snapping a quick photo in your software).
Some people see MTD as just another task added to the list. But in reality, staying on top of your accounts is what keeps your business healthy.
👉 If you don’t know who you’ve invoiced, it’s easy to miss income or delay billing — and that directly affects your cashflow.
👉 Poor cashflow means less ability to invest in your business or pay suppliers on time.
And it’s not just about income…
👉 Lost or damaged receipts (covered in oil, faded, or missing altogether) mean you can’t prove expenses.
👉 No proof = no claim = higher tax bill.
👉 A bank payment alone isn’t enough — HMRC still expects you to justify what the expense was.
Using software like FreeAgent or similar platforms can help — giving you a live estimate of your tax bill based on the data you’ve entered.
But let’s be clear…
It is NOT just “a click of a button.”
If you’re doing your own bookkeeping:
💠You’re entering the data
💠Your accountant/bookkeeper will still need to review everything at year-end
💠They’ll adjust for disallowable expenses (like personal coffees, lunches, etc.)
If those are included incorrectly:
💠Your tax estimate throughout the year will be wrong
💠You could face a shock bill at the end of the year
💠And potentially struggle with payments on account
On the other hand, if you:
✅ Work with a bookkeeper or accountant throughout the year
✅ Submit accurate quarterly updates
You’ll get a much more reliable view of your tax position — helping you plan, save, and avoid surprises.
The reality is:
💠Most of this record-keeping was already happening
💠The Key change with MTD IT is quarterly reporting to HMRC
✅ The rules haven’t changed
✅ Tax calculations haven’t changed
✅ Only the timing of reporting has