Digital Tax Service · Guidance

Making Tax Digital for Sole Traders — Full Guide

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

Self-Employment Income and MTD

Self-employment income includes everything earned from a trade carried on by you personally as an unincorporated business. This income is reported quarterly under MTD for Income Tax.

Multiple Trades and MTD

If you operate more than one self-employed trade, each is reported separately under MTD. Your software must support multiple trade sources distinctly.

Allowable Expenses Under MTD

The same rules apply for allowable business expenses as under Self Assessment. They must, however, be recorded digitally with a clear audit trail.

Cash Basis vs Accruals Accounting

Most sole traders within MTD will use the cash basis by default. Software must be set up to reflect the chosen accounting basis.

Digital Records a Sole Trader Must Keep

You must keep digital records of all sales, receipts, expenses and adjustments, maintained from the point of transaction with digital links to your reported figures.

End-of-Year Obligations Under MTD ITSA

At year end you submit a final declaration through your software that finalises your business figures and includes all other income and reliefs (replacing the traditional Self Assessment return).

Frequently Asked Questions

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