Digital Tax Service · Guidance

MTD deadline for sole traders: when you must file

Last reviewed: Next review: Reviewed by the Digital Tax Service editorial team

When sole traders are affected

  • April 2026 — turnover (plus any rental income) over £50,000
  • April 2027 — over £30,000
  • April 2028 — over £20,000

The first quarterly update for the 2026 group covers 6 April – 5 July 2026 and is due 7 August 2026.

It's your turnover that counts

The threshold is based on gross turnover — your total business income before expenses — combined with any rental income, not your taxable profit. So a busy sole trader with tight margins can still be inside MTD.

What counts as qualifying income

What sole traders need to do

Set up your HMRC personal tax account and Self Assessment, register for MTD, keep digital records of your income and expenses in compatible software, and file quarterly. If bookkeeping isn’t how you want to spend your time, we can register you and file on your behalf.

See the 3 steps to file your MTD

We file sole trader MTD for you

Call 0114 327 1480 or email shjenquiry@msc-g.com and we’ll handle your registration and quarterly filing.

MTD for sole traders

Frequently asked questions

Related

Need help with Making Tax Digital?

Ask us anything about MTD, or request that we register or file for you. Call 0114 327 1480 or send a message below.