Am I in Making Tax Digital?
Two numbers and you will know: whether it applies to you, from which April, and what happens next. Nothing is sent anywhere and we do not ask for your email.
Enter your figures and press check. Employment income taxed through PAYE does not count towards this.
How the answer is worked out
HMRC call the test figure your qualifying income: self-employment turnover plus gross property income, added together, before any expenses. Employment income taxed through PAYE, dividends and savings interest are not counted for the test.
- Over £50,000: you are in from 6 April 2026.
- Over £30,000: you join from April 2027.
- Over £20,000: you join from April 2028.
HMRC take the figure from your last filed Self Assessment return, so the April 2026 start is judged on your 2024 to 2025 return. That is why letters are landing now.
This checker gives you the general position, not advice on your own circumstances. Property held in a limited company, trusts and partnerships work differently, and if that is you, ask us rather than relying on the number above.
Once you know you are in
You will need HMRC-recognised software, digital records, a quarterly update on 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May, and a final declaration by 31 January. Read the detail for landlords or sole traders, check the deadlines, or have the lot handled for a fixed monthly fee.
Launch offer: sign up by 31 December 2026 and your assisted bookkeeping is free until 5 April 2027, normally £7.50 a month.
Your questions, answered
How do I know if Making Tax Digital applies to me?
Add your self-employment turnover to your gross property income. If the total is over £50,000 you are in from 6 April 2026; over £30,000 from April 2027; over £20,000 from April 2028. Employment income taxed through PAYE does not count.
Which tax year does HMRC look at?
HMRC use the qualifying income on your last filed Self Assessment return. For the April 2026 start that is the 2024 to 2025 return, which is why letters are arriving now.
Is it turnover or profit?
Turnover, before expenses. For property it is the rent received before the mortgage, agent fees and repairs.
What if I am under the threshold?
You carry on with Self Assessment for now, but the threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028, so most self-employed people and landlords are caught eventually.