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What is Making Tax Digital (MTD)?

Making Tax Digital is HMRC's initiative to move UK business tax records and submissions completely online. Instead of keeping paper receipts or disconnected spreadsheets, businesses must keep digital records using HMRC-recognised cloud software such as QuickBooks and submit updates directly to HMRC.

Who must follow MTD rules right now?

All VAT-registered businesses in the UK must keep digital VAT records and submit VAT returns through Making Tax Digital compatible software. For self-employed individuals and landlords, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) is being phased in from April 2026 for those with qualifying income over £50,000, and from April 2027 for those over £30,000.

• VAT-registered businesses (regardless of turnover) must already use MTD-compatible software
• Sole traders and landlords with gross income over £50,000 enter MTD for Income Tax from April 2026
• Sole traders and landlords with gross income over £30,000 follow from April 2027
• Quarterly digital updates replace a single last-minute annual scramble

How Accountivate makes MTD effortless

All of our Basic and Advanced accounting packages — as well as our Sole Trader packages from the Basic tier upwards — include QuickBooks cloud software, full setup and hands-on training. You simply snap receipts on your phone or connect your bank feed, and our Birmingham accountancy team reconciles your records and files your returns on time.

Match your package to your trading structure and stage

Choosing an accountant should not mean paying for services you do not use. Whether you are a newly incorporated company, a sole trader, or an established SME with staff, the right package depends on three things: your legal structure, your monthly transaction volume, and whether you run payroll.

Which Accountivate tier suits your business?

We group our fixed-fee monthly plans clearly so you can start small and scale up only when your business grows:

• Dormant (£12.50/mo) & Entry (from £15/mo): Ideal for non-trading or low-transaction limited companies that need statutory year-end accounts and a confirmation statement filed accurately.
• Basic (£50/mo): Our most popular limited company tier — includes year-end accounts, QuickBooks software & training, monthly bookkeeping, payroll for 1 employee, and 1 director's Self Assessment.
• Advanced (£70/mo): Everything in Basic plus Remote IT Support included for growing teams.
• Sole Trader Plans (£8.25/mo – £55/mo): Tailored for self-employed professionals, scaling from annual Self Assessment up to 3 hours of monthly bookkeeping for turnovers above £85k.

When to build a custom package

If you have multiple directors, a larger payroll headcount, quarterly VAT returns, or want to bundle HR retainers and social media marketing under one roof, our interactive Package Builder lets you combine exact add-ons into one transparent monthly quote.