Is Making Tax Digital applicable to me?
Making tax digital does not start right away if you are new to self assessment you will submit your first tax return to the following 5th April.
A year later the chances are Making Tax Digital will start
e.g. Commencement of Trade - September 2026
First fiscal year end - 5th April 2027
Start of Making Tax Digital - 5th April 2028
We however recommend that all new clients starting in Self Employment install and start using the software straight away. Why ? (a) So you can make mistakes before the real system starts and (b) is actually easier book keeping
If you have already started to trade prior to 5th April of this year then you add together your total income from Driving Instructing (without knocking off any costs) and your total income from rental income (if any) again without costs being deducted.
If this total is
Over £50,000 then you start MTD from 6th April 2026
Over £30,000 then you start MTD from 6th April 2027
Over £20,000 then you start MTD from 6th April 2028