Do I need Making Tax Digital?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being phased in by income, and the test is your gross income, not your profit. Put in what you take before costs and see which start date, if any, catches you.

Do I need Making Tax Digital?

It is turnover, not profit

The test is qualifying income: your gross self-employment and property income before expenses. Employment income and other sources do not count towards it.

Three steps down

From 6 April 2026 it applies above £50,000, from 6 April 2027 above £30,000 and from 6 April 2028 above £20,000. Each start date looks at the income on the tax return you filed earlier, so the 2028 date is set by your 2026/27 income.

Under £20,000 means a spreadsheet still works

Below the lowest threshold you are not required to use it. You can still sign up voluntarily. For the group under £30,000 the government has said it is keeping the question under review, so check again each year.

Figures for the 2026/27 tax year, checked 25 October 2026. Sources: Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. An estimate, not advice. SideTill is not tax software.

Keep the number for every month

SideTill is the simple record of your side hustle: log the job, send the invoice, record the money when it comes in, and see whether the month actually made you money. It also shows your best month, so you can tell a bad month from a bad habit.

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No account. No sign-up. Your data stays on your phone. The basics are free to use.

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