
Compliance changes rarely hurt because they are complicated. They hurt because they arrive while you are busy – and then you scramble.
HMRC has confirmed that Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts in April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000, with phased expansion after that.
What’s changing
Digital record keeping and compatible software are becoming non-negotiable for affected taxpayers.
What usually goes wrong
The most common failure points are simple:
- Records are incomplete, so reporting becomes stressful and expensive.
- Software is chosen too late, so no one is trained properly.
- Cash planning is ignored, and tax becomes a surprise.
The readiness checklist
- Confirm whether you are in-scope based on income thresholds.
- Choose compatible software early, and standardise how you record transactions.
- Set a monthly review routine, so errors are corrected immediately.
- Build tax into cashflow, so you stay in control.
If you want this handled professionally, book a consultation. We help you set the system, tighten reporting, and keep everything audit-ready.