Do I need Making Tax Digital, and when?
Enter your income before expenses and this checker shows when Making Tax Digital for Income Tax would start for you, using the thresholds on GOV.UK. It takes about a minute, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
The rules the checker uses
HMRC looks at your qualifying income: your self-employment turnover plus your property income, before any expenses, as shown on your Self Assessment return for an earlier tax year.
| If your qualifying income in | was over | you start Making Tax Digital on |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | £50,000 | 6 April 2026 |
| 2025 to 2026 | £30,000 | 6 April 2027 |
| 2026 to 2027 | £20,000 | 6 April 2028 |
What counts
- Turnover from self-employment, before expenses (what you charge customers, not your profit).
- Rent and other income from UK property, and from overseas property if you are UK resident, before expenses. If you own property jointly, only your share counts (if you are only told your share after expenses, use that figure).
Read more in qualifying income for Making Tax Digital.
What does not count
- Anything other than self-employment and property income: wages from a job, the State Pension and private pensions, dividends (including from your own company) and savings interest.
- Your share of profit as a partner in a partnership, and income your own limited company earns.
Some returns are outside Making Tax Digital whatever the income, for example returns for trusts and returns made by personal representatives for someone who has died. Your own self-employment or property income still counts. Some people can apply for an exemption. See who is exempt.
If your income later falls
Once you are in, you can usually only opt out after your qualifying income has been below the threshold for three tax years in a row. One low year is not enough. Exempt people still file a normal Self Assessment return.
Common questions
Is the Making Tax Digital threshold based on turnover or profit?
Turnover. HMRC adds up your self-employment and property income before expenses, so someone with £55,000 of sales and £30,000 of costs is still over £50,000.
Which year's income decides when I start?
An earlier year's Self Assessment return: 2024 to 2025 for a 6 April 2026 start, 2025 to 2026 for 6 April 2027, and 2026 to 2027 for 6 April 2028.
Do I need Making Tax Digital if I earn under £20,000?
Not under the thresholds announced so far. You can still sign up voluntarily. See MTD if you earn under £20,000.
Does the checker store my figures?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to Snapfile or anyone else.
Sources: GOV.UK: Find out if and when you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; GOV.UK: Work out your qualifying income for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; GOV.UK: Find out if you can get an exemption from Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; GOV.UK: Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: if your circumstances change. This checker gives general information, not tax advice. HMRC's own records decide your start date.