QuickBooks

The QuickBooks guide to

Making Tax Digital

for accountants & bookkeepers

MTD for accountants & bookkeepers

Making Tax Digital rules are changing. Plan ahead with QuickBooks to make sure you and your clients are ready ahead of the April 2022 deadline and beyond.

Explore our bridging software for accountants or continue reading for a timeline on MTD events.

Small business owner? Try the QuickBooks' making tax digital software.

Making Tax Digital with spreadsheets? Our software’s got you covered

Your personal guide

Answer a few questions to build a customised guide to preparing your practice for Making Tax Digital, based on what matters to you.

YOUR MTD TIMELINE


What’s happening when?

An accountant’s guide to the key dates for MTD for VAT, MTD for ITSA and MTD for Corporation Tax. With tips for getting your clients ready.

FIRST UP


MTD for VAT

As you’ll know, MTD for VAT is already law for all UK businesses if their annual turnover is more than £85,000.

What’s next?

From 1 April 2022, all VAT-registered businesses will have to comply, regardless of their turnover.

April 2022

MTD for VAT

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What does this mean?

It means that HMRC won’t accept manual entries on VAT returns any more. All info will have to be submitted using digital links.


COMING UP IN 2026


MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA)

Originally due to take effect in 2023, MTD for ITSA will now launch in 2024. From that date, self-assessment taxpayers will have to make quarterly submissions to HMRC. They can alter these submissions up to the time that the final figures are due.

The idea is to make tax returns more accurate. It should also make them more manageable for you and your clients by avoiding that mad rush in the run-up to 31 January. Another upside is that MTD for ITSA will help business owners predict how much tax they’ll have to pay – and plan accordingly.

April 2026

MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment

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Who’s liable and who’s exempt?

It’s important to understand who will – and who won’t – be affected by MTD for ITSA.



From April 2026, people and organisations liable for MTD for ITSA
will have to:

  • Keep electronic accounts and bookkeeping records
  • Make quarterly submissions
  • Produce an end of period statement using accounting software

This gives you a great opportunity to:

  • grow your practice – clients will need support from accountants they see as experts on MTD for ITSA
  • spread your work more evenly over the year
  • develop your role as an advisor, not just a number cruncher – with piles of paperwork a thing of the past, you’ll have more time to build your client relationships
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ProAdvisor Programme

Find out more about how you can grow your practice.

Take me there

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD…


MTD for Corporation Tax

The government has held a consultation on MTD for Corporation tax. No date has been confirmed yet.

After April 2026

MTD for Corporation Tax

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Want to know more about the consultation?

The consultation explores how the principles established for Making Tax Digital could be implemented for Corporation Tax.

HMRC consultation update

A WORD ON PENALTIES


Missing a filing deadline

As part of MTD, HMRC has introduced a points-based penalty system for late submissions and payments.

Bear in mind that it’s the client, not their accountant, who’ll be fined for a late submission or payment. So if you miss a deadline on behalf of a client, you won’t be out of pocket, but it may cost you that client.

Penalties

Missing a filing deadline

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We’ve set out how all this will work in our blog

The penalties for not complying with Making Tax Digital regulations.

Take me there

TO SUM UP, THEN


Your MTD timeline

To sum up, then

Your MTD timeline

Scroll to begin

Your MTD questions answered

Ask the expert

Got a question about MTD? Chances are we’ve already answered it. We’ve got accountants responding to your most popular queries - check out the videos now.

Learn more

MTD - your next steps

Support for your practice

Free resources designed to help your clients and practice get up to speed with MTD.

Check them out

Talk to our MTD team

Got a question about QuickBooks for MTD? Provide your details and one of our experts will be in touch.

Get in touch

MTD with QuickBooks

Learn how our easy-to-use software can help you and your clients make a seamless transition to MTD.

Find out more

Frequently asked questions

Support for your practice and your clients

Tap into a host of free resources designed to educate your clients, get your team up to speed and support your practice’s growth in the run up to MTD.

Talk to our MTD team
Client handouts

Client handouts

Not sure how to explain Making Tax Digital to clients? Our downloadable client handouts have all the answers you need.

Access the MTD client handouts
Insiders guide to MTD

Insider's guides to MTD

We've prepared three handy guides that will help you to prepare your practice for MTD. Download one or all three.

Access the Insider's guides
MTD for VAT templates

MTD for VAT templates

Easily communicate with your clients to get them up to speed with MTD for VAT requirements using these handy templates.

Download the templates
Create your personal MTD guide

Create your personal MTD guide

Answer a few questions to build a customized guide to Making Tax Digital.


Making Tax Digital Bridging Software – what it is and when to use it

HMRC webinar on Making Tax Digital for VAT

On-demand webinar: MTD for VAT Phase 2. Is your business ready?

Making Tax Digital Bridging Software – what it is and when to use it

What MTD for ITSA means for your clients with HMRC

Watch this interactive webinar with HMRC and discover what MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment means for your clients and how to start preparing your practice now.

Making Tax Digital Bridging Software – what it is and when to use it

Making Tax Digital rules for success

Get ahead of the new Making Tax Digital rules with our four-step guide for accountants.

Making Tax Digital rules for success

Penalties for not complying with MTD

Not sure about the penalties for Making Tax Digital regulations? Find out what they are and how to avoid them in this short summary of the HMRC proposal.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

Making Tax Digital deadlines for VAT

Discover everything you need to know about the Making Tax Digital deadlines for VAT. From who has to register to digital links - we cover it all.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

MTD tools to make tax easy

Looking for tools to help you streamline MTD for your practice? In this guide, we break down how QuickBooks products and programs support your practice.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

A guide to bridging software

Learn about how QuickBooks’ bridging software helps spreadsheet users and clients with complex VAT needs keep compliant.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

Your MTD for Phase 2 Readiness Plan

Getting ready for MTD now means you and your clients can stay stress-free. Watch this webinar to see how to prepare for Phase 2.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

MTD for ITSA: Prepare your practice now for a stress-free 2026

MTD for ITSA will affect your self-employed and landlord clients. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to prepare for the 2026 deadline.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

Understanding the new rules around 'digital links' with HMRC

We've teamed up with HMRC to explain the new rules around 'digital links'. Watch this webinar to discover what counts as digital data, what qualifies as a digital link and when manual adjustments are allowed.

Making Tax Digital – HMRC penalties for your clients

Understanding Agent Service Accounts with HMRC

Making Tax Digital is expanding and that means spending more time in your HMRC services account. Watch this webinar with HMRC and learn why all advisers need an Agent Services Account, how to set one up and what's next for MTD.

Making Tax Digital Bridging Software – what it is and when to use it

Understanding the new penalty reform system for late VAT returns and payments

Watch this webinar to understand the changes to the default surcharge regime for late VAT returns which has been replaced with the new points-based system from January 2023.

Get started with QuickBooks for free

A seamless transition to MTD for you and your clients

QuickBooks’ easy-to-use software means a stress-free transition to Making Tax Digital.

Find the tools and expertise you need to support all of your clients, from users of outdated accounting software to spreadsheet-based businesses.

Free onboarding support

Get your clients up and running with QuickBooks in no time with our free expert onboarding sessions. It’s the fastest, easiest way to work together efficiently in QuickBooks.

Learn more
Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Automatic VAT error checks

Our unique VAT error checker automatically scans your clients’ VAT returns for common errors, duplicates and anomalies. Use it to save time on manual checks for accuracy before filing directly to HMRC.

Learn more about our VAT error checker.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Submit VAT to HMRC with bridging software

Use QuickBooks’ bridging software to help spreadsheet users and clients with complex VAT needs comply with Making Tax Digital without changing the way they manage their VAT.

Submit VAT with QuickBooks
Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

QuickBooks product tour

QuickBooks is HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital software for keeping digital records and making VAT submissions to HMRC. Take a closer look at why it’s the right choice for your practice and your clients.

QuickBooks for your practice

Whether you’re new to accountancy software or already live with your head in the cloud, it’s easy to get started with QuickBooks. It’s designed from the ground up to be easy to use, and to fit into your current way of working. Discover the key features of QuickBooks for your practice.

Select a topic to get started.

One dashboard for all your clients.

You can easily manage every client from the main dashboard - it's easy to dive into their books at the click of a button.

Setting up new clients is a breeze.

Adding your new clients into QuickBooks is quick and easy - so you can get going in no time at all.

Reports at the double.

A range of pre-built reports gives you the information you need - instantly. You can even tailor them to individual clients.

Chart your clients' performance.

The Performance Centre provides up-to-the-minute charts to help you keep on top of each client's business.

Many wrongs can easily be put right.

We know that sometimes data gets entered incorrectly. No problem. You can reclassify transactions at scale to save time.

Helping your business grow.

Grow your practice through the QuickBooks ProAdvisor programme and find new clients with our Find-a-ProAdvisor directory.

Dedicated QuickBooks support.

All your queries answered in the way you find easiest - from call backs to community forums. Your clients can also access support directly from QuickBooks.

QuickBooks for your clients

QuickBooks makes bookkeeping, tax and financial planning easy for your clients. See just how easy the software is to use for Making Tax Digital and beyond.

Select a topic to get started.

Customer query? We've got it.

Your customers don't have to trouble you for support. They can find it within QuickBooks. Our award-winning customer support is free and easy to access.

VAT. Your clients will always know what they owe.

Your clients can keep track of how much VAT they owe in real time, so that there are no nasty surprises at tax time.

Discounted rates for your clients

Get access to discounted QuickBook Online subscriptions to offer to your clients. Give them the confidence that they can keep digital records and submit their VAT returns in line with Making Tax Digital.

Request a callback from a member of our team to learn more.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Track, check and submit VAT in QuickBooks

Easily migrate your clients’ accounts to QuickBooks from other accounting software. Then prepare and automatically check their VAT return before submitting it directly to HMRC, in line with Making Tax Digital.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

MTD training for accountants

We’ve been working closely with HMRC to make sure you have all of the information your practice needs to be ready for the next phase of Making Tax Digital. Take advantage of free QuickBooks training, live webinars and on-demand video sessions.

Watch our webinar to learn how to prepare for MTD for VAT phase 2.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Get set up with QuickBooks

Getting your practice ready for Making Tax Digital is easy with QuickBooks for accountants and bookkeepers. We’ve got your back every step of the way.

Request a callback from a member of our team to learn more.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Introductions to new clients

Get leads through the QuickBooks Find a ProAdvisor directory - for free! Once you’ve passed our free certification training you can publish your profile on our directory of accountants, where thousands of small businesses look for professional support.

Get listed in our directory.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

MTD marketing materials

Our free ProAdvisor programme gives you access to the Marketing Hub — a free asset library to help you grow your practice and let clients know that you're up to speed with Making Tax Digital.

Learn more about our ProAdvisor programme.

Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Join QuickBooks for Accountants

QuickBooks Making Tax Digital software for accountants can help you grow your business, save money, and give you more time to support your clients.

Learn how QuickBooks can help you
Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

Understanding Making Tax Digital

Get to grips with the changes and stay ahead of the deadlines with our MTD overview.

Find out more

Support for your practice

Free resources designed to help your clients and practice get up to speed with MTD.

Check them out

QuickBooks Making Tax Digital for VAT software is available to all QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential, Plus and Advanced subscribers. Use of QuickBooks MTD for VAT software and bridging software must be aligned with HMRC's eligibility requirements and includes additional setup between the small business and HMRC.

QuickBooks MTD software currently supports Standard, Cash and Flat Rate schemes. QuickBooks Bridging Software supports Standard and Cash schemes. Businesses whose home currency is not GBP are currently not supported.

Receive a 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Simple Start or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Essentials or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Plus or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Advanced for the first 6 months of service, starting from date of enrolment, followed by the then-current monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option and you will not be eligible for a 30-day free trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 168 9533. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

Receive 90% off the current monthly subscription price for QuickBooks Core or QuickBooks Advanced Payroll for the first 6 months of service, starting from the date you subscribe to the service, followed by the then-current monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis for the subscription fee and for all pay runs processed in the previous month, until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option, and you will not be eligible for a 30-day free trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 168 9533. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

Discount valid until the 19 March 2024.

Receive 90% off the current monthly subscription price for QuickBooks Advanced for the first 6 months of service, starting from the date of enrolment, followed by the then monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis for the subscription fee and for all pay runs processed in the previous month, until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option and will not receive a one month trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 239 9692. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

QuickBooks Advanced Payroll allows you to automatically submit information to the following pension providers: NEST, The Peoples Pension, Smart Pensions, Aviva and NOW:Pensions

Free onboarding sessions are offered to all newly subscribed customers and trialists, excluding customers on our QuickBooks Self-Employed product. We offer 1 session per customer and reserve the right to remove this offering at anytime. Invitations are sent via email and in-product messaging once signup has been completed. A link will be included in the message for you to book a session using our calendar tool.

Mileage tracking is available on QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Online on iOS and Android only.

These terms apply to QuickBooks UK customers only. Bulk-pricing discount offer is valid only if you are signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription with each order. View terms and conditions for multiple accounts pricing here. To inquire further about the bulk-pricing discount offer, please call 0808 168 9533

QuickBooks UK support hours:

  • QuickBooks Online Phone – Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 7.00 PM
  • QuickBooks Online Live Messaging – Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 10.00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM
  • QuickBooks Self-Employed Live Messaging – Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 10.00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM

'Save around 8 hours a month' based on respondents new to QuickBooks; Intuit survey June 2016.

How can we help?

Talk to sales: 0808 168 9533

9.00am - 5.30pm Monday - Thursday

9.00am - 4.30pm Friday

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