Five days until Making Tax Digital for Income Tax goes live.
If you are a sole trader earning over £50,000 and have not started yet: here is the honest picture of where things stand and what you can realistically do before Saturday.
The actual deadline situation
6 April 2026 is when HMRC expects you to start keeping digital records and submitting quarterly updates via MTD-compatible software.
Your first quarterly submission is not due until 5 August 2026. So "missing" the 6 April date does not mean an immediate fine — it means you start accumulating points toward the penalty threshold.
Miss your first quarterly submission (deadline 5 August): 1 point. No fine yet.
Miss all four in the first year: 4 points + £200 fine.
HMRC has indicated a softer approach in the first year for those genuinely trying to comply. But "genuinely trying" means having software set up and authorised.
What you can realistically do in 5 days
Day 1 (today): Choose your software. Sign up. Free trials available for all major options.
Day 2: Authorise the software with HMRC via Government Gateway. Takes 15 minutes.
Day 3-4: Import or enter your records from 6 April 2025 to now.
Day 5: Test that the software shows your income/expenses correctly. Check your first submission period starts from 6 April.
This is achievable. It is not comfortable, but it is doable.
The software shortlist
- FreeAgent — free with NatWest/RBS/Mettle/Starling business accounts. Start here if you have one of these.
- QuickBooks Simple Start — £10/month, 30-day free trial. Best documentation.
- Coconut — mobile-first, simpler for sole traders with straightforward finances.
What happens if you just... do not
You are not blocked from filing. Your income is not frozen. Life continues.
But from 6 April, HMRC expects to see quarterly submissions from you. If those do not arrive by 5 August, 5 November, 5 February, and 5 May — you collect points. Four points is £200. Keep missing and it compounds.
The longer you delay starting, the harder the catch-up is.
Free 5-minute check
landolio.com/tools/mtd-readiness-checker — see exactly which steps are done and which are not.
Full prep kit
landolio.com/products/mtd-readiness-toolkit — £14. Software comparison, authorisation guide, quarterly checklist, and what to do if you miss a deadline.
Have you started your MTD setup? What step are you on?
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