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Upgrade My Wealth
Free toolUpdated 9 November 2026

Making Tax Digital checker

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is rolling out to sole traders and landlords in three stages. Enter your income to see if and when it starts for you.

Add your self-employed income and rental income together, before any expenses. Leave a later year blank to assume it stays the same.

Your best estimate for the current year.

Salary from a job, pensions and savings interest do not count. Partnerships are not yet in scope.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Enter your income to see when, or if, MTD starts for you.

The thresholds

  • Over £50,000 in 2024/256 April 2026
  • Over £30,000 in 2025/266 April 2027
  • Over £20,000 in 2026/276 April 2028

The three stages

MTD started on 6 April 2026 for people with more than £50,000 of qualifying income in 2024/25. It reaches anyone over £30,000 in 2025/26 from 6 April 2027, and anyone over £20,000 in 2026/27 from 6 April 2028.

The catch for side hustlers is that self-employed and rental income are added together. A £15,000 Etsy shop and a £16,000 buy to let take you over £30,000, even though neither would on its own.

If it applies to you

  • Pick MTD-compatible software well before your start date and get used to it.
  • Sign up through GOV.UK when HMRC asks, or earlier if you want a practice run.
  • Work out what you owe as you go with the side hustle tax calculator.

Some people are exempt, for example those who cannot use digital tools because of age, disability or where they live. HMRC decides exemptions case by case.

Questions

Common questions

What counts towards the Making Tax Digital threshold?

Your gross self-employment income plus your gross property income, before any expenses. Salary from a job, pensions, savings interest and dividends do not count.

I have a full-time job. Can MTD still apply to me?

Yes. Your salary is ignored, but if your side hustle and any rental income together go over the threshold, MTD applies to that income.

What do I actually have to do under MTD?

Keep your records in MTD-compatible software, send HMRC a short summary every quarter, and submit a final declaration after the tax year ends instead of a normal Self Assessment return.

Is my income checked each year?

Yes. Each threshold is tested against a specific earlier tax return, so it is worth rechecking every year as your income grows.

Sources

This tool gives an estimate for general information. It is not tax advice. Check your own position on GOV.UK or with an accountant.