Your privacy

We have to collect some data when you use this website so it works and is secure. We'd also like your consent to collect data to study how people use our site. Doing so helps us improve our services and allows us to tailor the marketing you see on our site. Select 'Accept cookies' to agree or 'Cookie settings' to choose which cookies we use. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the 'Manage Cookies' link.

SMALL BUSINESS? BIG SAVINGS Get 90% off for 6 months or a year - Offer ends 30 April
Buy now & save
QuickBooks

The guide to

Making Tax Digital

What is Making Tax Digital?
What do I need to know?
MTD with QuickBooks
Go to MTD for Accountants & Bookkeepers - No thanks

Before and after

Return to Making Tax Digital guide

Before and after MTD for VAT

Whether you bake cupcakes or offer consultancy, you’re probably wondering how Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT will affect you.

If you’re currently using spreadsheets to sort your quarterly VAT return or storing your old receipts in shoeboxes, it’s going to mean a change to the way you do business.

Find out more
Be ready for MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

What's going on?

VAT-registered UK businesses of all shapes and sizes will need to be ready to follow the new Making Tax Digital rules. In order to stay compliant with Government legislation you’ll need to:

Say goodbye to paper VAT record keeping, or copying and pasting from spreadsheets, as the switch to digitally-linked copies takes place

Store a digital copy of your business records

Make sure that you have a clear digital audit trail that can be accessed at any time

Use compatible MTD for VAT software to send VAT reports directly to HMRC

A closer look at what will happen in your business

We’ve taken a snapshot of a small business before and after MTD for VAT. It shows how the new system means less time staring at spreadsheets and more time to concentrate on what you do best.

Digital data and smoother submissions

When the next phase of MTD for VAT is up and running, you’ll need to record all your financial information online instead of on spreadsheets or handwritten notes. The software you use will need to be compatilble with HMRC’s so that your VAT returns become seamless.

Before

Lots of manual input

You log in to HMRC’s portal and copy and paste your figures from spreadsheets. Or type it all in manually from paper receipts.

After

No manual data entry

You submit your VAT returns by clicking through from your accounting software. With QuickBooks, our password protection, firewall-protected servers and encryption tech (which the world’s top banks use) keeps your data secure.

Before

You have to send everything to your accountant

You get hounded by your accountant for the receipts and information they need.

After

An accountant can do it for you

You can authorise your accountant to allow them to submit your return for you directly to HMRC through your software.

Before

Where did I put that receipt?

You turn your office upside down trying to find a receipt from six weeks ago.

After

Paper-free receipts

You take a photo of the receipt and save it directly onto the system. That way, you know it’s sitting securely online and isn’t going anywhere.

A clearer picture of the future

No need for that crystal ball anymore. There’s an easier (and more reliable) way to see what’s coming. QuickBooks takes the mystery out of MTD for VAT.

Before

Check. Check. And check again.

You spend endless hours checking and rechecking your VAT return.

After

Get peace of mind from getting it right first time

QuickBooks’ innovative VAT error checker goes through your return, highlighting common duplicates, mistakes and anomalies to put your mind at ease.

Before

You're not too sure what your final VAT bill will be

You worry about what you owe, if you’ve put enough money aside or how to claim a refund if you’re due one.

After

Know exactly what your VAT bill will be

QuickBooks pulls info from your invoices and expenses into one place. It tracks how much VAT you owe, or how much you’re owed. And as the year progresses, QuickBooks updates your accounts in real time so you always know where you stand.

Before

Too many spreadsheets

You flip from one system to another to predict your cash flow month by month.

After

Understand your cash flow

Using your most frequent and recurring transactions, QuickBooks can give you cash flow insights.

Before

Multi-tasking

You’re lost in a mound of paperwork and digital admin, constantly checking your bank transactions against your spreadsheets.

After

Always be ready for tax time

You can connect your bank to QuickBooks and automatically pull transactions. This means all the info for your VAT return is there when you need it. And with QuickBooks mobile access, you can even get it all sorted on the go or between client meetings.

Easily manage MTD for VAT with QuickBooks

For some small businesses, MTD for VAT might feel like a bit of a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help with intuitive software, free customer support and an MTD for VAT Hotline.

Call the MTD hotline at 0808 168 9533

Hotline hours: Mon to Thu - 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM | Fri - 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

What do I need to do now?
Explore plans & pricing

Making Tax Digital - your next steps

MTD with QuickBooks

See why QuickBooks' HMRC-recognised accounting software is the right choice for MTD.

Find out more

What is Making Tax Digital (MTD)?

Understand what MTD is, why HMRC introduced it and what it might mean for your business.

Find out more

What do I need to do now?

Check whether MTD will affect you and how to prepare with QuickBooks.

Get started

Let's build your business together

Find your plan

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.

Enjoy 90% off for 12 months on the current fees when you pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12-month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Alternatively if you wish to receive a refund then you need to cancel by calling us on 0808 234 5337 within the pre-paid 12 month period and we will provide a pro-rata refund and deactivate your account. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.

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 30 April 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

Contact sales  

Get product support

Contact support  Visit support page