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Switch from QuickBooks Sole Trader to QuickBooks Online or Sole Trader Plus

by Intuit•4• Updated 5 days ago

Learn how to switch from Sole Trader to QuickBooks Online or Sole Trader Plus and prepare for Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements.

This article is for Sole Trader customers who are switching to QuickBooks Online or Sole Trader Plus.

The way you work is changing

We have released our QuickBooks Online platform experience, including Sole Trader Plus. All customers using QuickBooks Sole Trader will be moving to this upgraded experience.

Why now? If your business revenue was more than £50,000 for the 2025-2026 tax year, you must move to MTD IT-compliant software before 6 April 2026. This ensures you are ready for your first mandated HMRC return in August 2026.

Learn more about your MTD Income Tax obligations in QuickBooks.

Find the right fit for your business. Compare plans and see current offers on our Plans & Pricing page.

What happens when you switch?

When you switch, you’ll begin using QuickBooks on the Intuit Platform. All of your data moves with you, including Transactions, Invoices, Customers, Mileage and Receipts.

Your information stays with you — it’s simply organised within a more detailed accounting system.


Things to note before you switch

  • You can’t switch back to QuickBooks Sole Trader after moving. 
  • After moving, you can edit your Chart of Accounts. However, it will no longer be automatically mapped to your tax form. You’ll need to manually map your accounts.
  • You can only switch through a web browser.

Changes to specific features

QuickBooks Online doesn’t support goal setting. Any goals created in QuickBooks Sole Trader won’t appear after you switch.

Bank transactions previously imported into QuickBooks Sole Trader won’t appear on the Bank transactions page in QuickBooks Online.

However:

  • Categorised transactions remain recorded in your books as deposits or expenses.
  • You can view and edit them through areas such as your Chart of Accounts, Expenses, Sales transactions, and Invoices.
  • You won’t need to reconnect any previously connected bank accounts.
  • New bank transactions will begin importing into the Bank transactions page after upgrading.

In some cases, duplicate transactions may appear in the For review tab. If this happens, you can exclude the duplicates from your books.


How to switch

If your QuickBooks Self-Employed subscription was purchased through Apple or Google Play, you’ll need to contact our support team to switch.

Learn more: Find out how to switch your mobile subscription.

If you subscribed directly through our website, you can upgrade online:

  1. Sign in to your QuickBooks account.
  2. Go to Settings ⚙, then Account and settings.
  3. Select Billing & subscription.
  4. Select Upgrade your plan and follow the prompts.

Important: Wait for confirmation

Once your migration begins, do not add any new transactional data until you receive a confirmation email that your migration is complete. This ensures your data transfers correctly and prevents duplication or errors.


After switching

After migrating, you’ll be asked a few questions about your business. This helps tailor your experience and ensures your account is set up correctly.

To help you get started, see: