Making Tax Digital — April 6, 2026

MTD is mandatory in 5 weeks.
AccountsOS is already ready.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax launches April 6, 2026. If your income exceeds £50k, quarterly digital submissions are mandatory. AccountsOS is HMRC-connected, MTD-compliant, and free during Early Access.

No credit card required · Free during Early Access

Does MTD apply to you?

MTD for Income Tax — April 6, 2026

  • Income from self-employment over £50k
  • Property rental income over £50k
  • Combined income over £50k
  • Applies to you personally as a director

What changes for you

  • File 4 quarterly updates to HMRC per year
  • Must use HMRC-recognised software
  • Digital record-keeping is mandatory
  • End of year finalisation replaces Self Assessment

Ltd company directors: MTD for Corporation Tax isn't confirmed yet. But if you take salary or dividends that take your personal income over £50k, MTD for Income Tax applies to you personally. Most Ltd directors on an optimal salary/dividend split will need to act.

What AccountsOS handles for MTD

Live now, and what's shipping before April 6.

Live now

VAT MTD — live now

VAT obligations sync automatically from HMRC. Returns calculated from your transactions. Submit directly to HMRC without leaving AccountsOS.

HMRC obligations sync

All your HMRC filing deadlines — VAT, Corporation Tax, Confirmation Statement — pulled directly from Companies House and HMRC and added to your dashboard.

HMRC account connected

Direct OAuth connection to HMRC's API. AccountsOS is an HMRC-recognised software provider, meeting all Fraud Prevention Header requirements.

Digital record keeping

All transactions, receipts, and documents stored digitally and categorised in HMRC-compliant format. The foundation MTD requires.

Shipping before April 6

MTD for Income Tax — quarterly submissions

Automated quarterly updates to HMRC for Income Tax. Covers employment, self-employment, and property income. In active development ahead of April 6 launch.

MTD sign-up flow

Guided sign-up for MTD for Income Tax through AccountsOS — no need to navigate HMRC's portal separately.

Penalty point tracker

Monitor your MTD penalty point balance. Get alerts when you're approaching the threshold so you never get caught out.

MTD compliance is table stakes.
AI understanding is the difference.

Every MTD-compliant tool will file your returns. Only AccountsOS lets you ask "what does this mean for me?" and get a straight answer.

Ask Finn anything about MTD

"Am I affected by MTD?" "What do I need to file this quarter?" "What happens if I miss the deadline?" — plain English answers, instantly.

Automatic obligation tracking

Your MTD filing calendar syncs from HMRC. Quarterly deadlines appear in your dashboard automatically. No manual setup, no guesswork.

HMRC-recognised software

AccountsOS meets all of HMRC's technical requirements — Fraud Prevention Headers, digital record keeping, direct API submission. Already approved.

How AccountsOS compares on MTD

Every option covers the compliance basics. The differences are cost and capability.

FeatureAccountsOSXeroQuickBooks
MTD for VAT
MTD for Income Tax
Direct HMRC API
AI chat to explain your MTD status
Ask questions in plain English
All compliance features included
Early Access pricingFree£16+/mo£10+/mo

Xero and QuickBooks pricing as of Feb 2026. Both have increased prices in the last 12 months.

MTD questions, answered

Is AccountsOS MTD-compliant?

Yes. AccountsOS is directly connected to HMRC's MTD APIs. VAT MTD is live now — obligations sync automatically, returns are calculated, and submission to HMRC is handled inside AccountsOS. MTD for Income Tax (mandatory from April 6, 2026 for income over £50k) is in active development.

Does MTD apply to limited companies?

MTD for Corporation Tax doesn't apply to limited companies yet. However, if you're a director with personal income — salary, dividends, rental income — over £50k, MTD for Income Tax applies to you personally from April 6, 2026.

What do I actually need to do from April 6?

If your qualifying income exceeds £50k: (1) sign up for MTD for Income Tax with HMRC, (2) keep digital records using HMRC-recognised software, and (3) submit quarterly updates four times per year. AccountsOS handles all of this — records, reminders, and submissions.

What's the penalty for missing MTD deadlines?

HMRC uses a points-based system. Each missed quarterly update earns a penalty point. Hit the threshold and you receive a £200 fine. AccountsOS tracks all obligations and sends reminders before each deadline.

How does AccountsOS compare to Xero or QuickBooks for MTD?

Both Xero (from £16/month) and QuickBooks (from £10/month) have raised prices significantly in 2025/26. AccountsOS is free during Early Access, then £9/month for early adopters — with all MTD features included, plus AI chat your accountant can't offer.

More detail on MTD rules, deadlines, and exemptions at our MTD guide hub.

MTD-ready in minutes. Free until you need more.

Sign up free, connect to HMRC, and let AccountsOS handle your MTD compliance. No credit card. No accountant needed.

Get started free

Free during Early Access · £9/month for early adopters when paid plans launch