MTD ITSA mandatory from April 2026 for income over £50,000

MTD tax filing,
done properly.

ArcTax connects directly to HMRC so sole traders, landlords, and agents can file quarterly updates, track deadlines, and complete Final Declarations — without the complexity.

No credit card required · Cancel any time

arctax.co.uk/obligations

Quarterly submissions per year

£50k+

Income threshold from April 2026

100%

Direct HMRC API — no middleware

£10/mo

Starts from, cancel any time

Direct HMRC API connection
OAuth 2.0 secured
Encrypted at rest & in transit
MTD ITSA compliant

The HMRC mandate

Self Assessment is being replaced.

HMRC is rolling out MTD ITSA in phases. If you earn from self-employment or property, quarterly digital submissions will soon be mandatory.

April 2026

£50,000+

Sole traders and landlords above this threshold must comply

Coming now — get ready

April 2027

£30,000+

The mandate extends to those earning above £30,000

April 2028

£20,000+

Full rollout — nearly all self-employed and landlords included

How it works

From sign-up to filed in three steps

01

Create your account

Sign up in minutes, choose Solo or Agent, verify your email, and you're in.

02

Connect to HMRC

Authorise ArcTax via HMRC Government Gateway. We never see your password.

03

Submit & stay compliant

Enter income and expenses quarterly — or upload a CSV. We handle the HMRC API and store every submission.

Features

Built for MTD ITSA. Nothing more.

Not a generic accounting platform with MTD bolted on. ArcTax is purpose-built for quarterly MTD submissions — fast, focused, and compliant.

Official

Direct HMRC API

Connects straight to HMRC's MTD APIs via OAuth 2.0 — fully compliant, no third-party intermediaries.

Bridging import

Keep your Excel or Google Sheets. Upload a CSV and we convert it into an HMRC-compliant update automatically.

Obligation tracking

See every open deadline pulled live from HMRC. Never miss a quarterly update or Final Declaration.

Agent portal

Manage multiple clients, view their obligations, and submit on their behalf from one dashboard.

Full audit trail

Every submission stored with HMRC reference numbers, payloads, and status — for every period filed.

Tax calculation

Trigger a live tax calculation from HMRC at any time to see your estimated liability before you file.

Bridging software

Keep your spreadsheets.
We handle HMRC.

Already tracking income in Excel or Google Sheets? Export to CSV, upload to ArcTax, and it's submitted to HMRC in one click. No need to change how you work.

Try bridging import

your_records.csv

turnover£12,400
costOfGoods£3,200
wagesAndStaff£4,500
premises£850
otherExpenses£640

Submitted to HMRC

Confirmation ref: XM9342-Q3-2025

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. Cancel any time.

Solo

£10/month

For sole traders and landlords filing their own MTD returns.

  • Quarterly self-employment updates
  • UK & foreign property updates
  • Bridging CSV import
  • Final Declaration filing
  • Obligation tracking
  • Full submission history
Get started
Most popular

Agent

£25/month

For accountants and agents managing multiple clients.

  • Everything in Solo
  • Multi-client portal
  • Submit on behalf of clients
  • Client obligation tracking
  • Per-client submission history
  • ARN management
Get started

Sign up and connect to HMRC · Billing starts only when you submit

FAQ

Common questions

What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

MTD ITSA requires self-employed individuals and landlords with income over £50,000 to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC from April 2026, replacing the annual Self Assessment return.

Do I have to leave my spreadsheet?

No. Our bridging import lets you export a CSV from any spreadsheet — Excel, Google Sheets — and converts it into an HMRC-compliant quarterly submission automatically.

Can my accountant use ArcTax on my behalf?

Yes. Your accountant can sign up for an Agent account, add you as a client, and submit quarterly updates and Final Declarations on your behalf.

What income sources does ArcTax support?

Self-employment, UK property (FHL and non-FHL), foreign property income, year-end adjustments, BSAS, and Final Declaration — the full MTD ITSA scope.

Is ArcTax connected to HMRC?

Yes. ArcTax connects directly to HMRC's MTD APIs using the official OAuth 2.0 authorisation flow. We never see your Government Gateway password.

Is there a trial period?

Yes — sign up, connect to HMRC, and explore the dashboard at no cost. Billing only starts when you're ready to submit.

Who needs to use Making Tax Digital?

Anyone who is self-employed or receives rental income and whose total qualifying gross income exceeds the relevant threshold must use MTD-compatible software. From April 2026 that threshold is £50,000, dropping to £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028. PAYE-only employees are not affected.

When does Making Tax Digital start for sole traders?

MTD ITSA becomes mandatory for sole traders with gross self-employment income over £50,000 from 6 April 2026. If your income is between £30,000 and £50,000 the start date is 6 April 2027, and for income over £20,000 it is 6 April 2028. The threshold is assessed against your previous tax year's income.

Do landlords need MTD software?

Yes, if your total qualifying income — rental income plus any self-employment income — exceeds the threshold. UK property landlords, foreign property landlords, and mixed-income taxpayers all fall within the MTD ITSA scope. The rollout follows the same phased schedule as sole traders: £50k from April 2026, £30k from April 2027, £20k from April 2028.

What records must I keep digitally?

HMRC requires you to keep digital records of all business income and expenses throughout the tax year. This can be in dedicated accounting software, a spreadsheet, or any digital format — paper records are no longer compliant. If you use a spreadsheet, you must connect it to HMRC via bridging software to submit your quarterly updates.

What happens if I do not comply with MTD?

HMRC uses a points-based penalty system for MTD. Each missed quarterly update earns a penalty point, and once you reach the threshold a £200 fixed penalty applies. Late payment of tax also incurs interest. Persistent non-compliance can trigger a formal HMRC compliance check. The safest approach is to get your software in place well before your mandatory start date.

MTD ITSA deadline: April 2026

Get compliant before
the deadline.

Join sole traders, landlords, and agents using ArcTax to file directly with HMRC — simply and compliantly.

No credit card required Cancel any time Direct HMRC API