This article was originally published on 16th February 2022. The article has since been updated on 24th October 2023.

The aim of the government’s Making Tax Digital initiative is to: “...make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs”. It promises to make tax administration in the UK: “...more effective, more efficient and easier for taxpayers to get their tax right”.

Put simply, Making Tax Digital involves using compatible software to manage your tax affairs with HMRC.

While it’s possible to use spreadsheets in conjunction with ‘bridging software’, many businesses and their accountants choose to use more comprehensive software, like FreeAgent.

These tools use the data from your day-to-day business activity to build an accurate picture of your business’s tax data in real time, highlighting possible errors and offering prompts for information that might otherwise be overlooked. Once your software has compiled the relevant data, you or your accountant submit it directly to HMRC, via a computer or smartphone.

HMRC has stated that: “…users will get the maximum benefits from MTD – fewer errors, increased productivity and better financial planning – by using dedicated MTD software”.

The first major stage of MTD was rolled out on 1st April 2019. This required all VAT-registered businesses in the UK with a turnover above the VAT registration threshold to file VAT returns using MTD-compatible software and to store financial records relating to VAT digitally.

The scope of MTD for VAT expanded on 1st April 2022 and all VAT-registered businesses are now required to follow these rules.

Another key development is that every small business owner and individual taxpayer now has access to an online business tax account that they can use to check their HMRC records and manage their details.

In its March 2020 evaluation of Making Tax Digital, the government reported that more than 1.4 million businesses had signed up for MTD for VAT and that more than 4 million VAT returns had been submitted successfully using MTD-compatible software. Elsewhere, HMRC has reported that more than 280,000 businesses with a turnover below the VAT threshold had chosen to sign up to MTD for VAT voluntarily in order to “…experience the benefits digital record-keeping has to offer”.

HMRC’s evaluation reported that some business owners experienced a smooth transition to digital VAT filing following its introduction, while others - “…particularly those continuing to use spreadsheets with bridging products” - found the transition more difficult.

HMRC reports that the Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2019 found that those who are the most digitally engaged save a day a week in administration and that businesses that fully integrate their accounting and tax software report that they spend less time on tax.

As the rollout of MTD continues, here’s what we can expect to happen next:

Making Tax Digital for income tax

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will be introduced in 2026. This will require self-employed individuals and landlords with a total business or property income above £50,000 per year to follow the rules for MTD for Income Tax from 6th April 2026.

Those with an income of more than £30,000 will have to follow the rules from April 2027. Partnerships will be required to join at a date yet to be announced.

This article was originally published by FreeAgent.