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Guides by country: US tax guides, UK tax guides, Australian tax guides.

Do You Need an Accountant for Making Tax Digital?

In short: You don't have to use an accountant for HMRC's Making Tax Digital: keeping your own digital records and filing through HMRC-recognised software is a legitimate route for one simple income stream and low transaction volume. Consider an accountant if you have self-employment plus property, multiple income sources, high-volume transactions or capital allowances to judge.

First-Year Freelancer Tax Checklist (2026 to April 2027)

In short: If you went freelance in the US in 2026, work through these steps before your April 2027 filing deadline. Decide on an EIN, open a separate business account and card, capture receipts from day one, set aside part of every payment for quarterly IRS estimated payments, learn your Schedule C categories, pick tax software or a professional, and gather income records and categorized expenses in January.

Freelancer Tax Deduction FAQ (2026)

In short: The IRS lets freelancers deduct expenses that are ordinary and necessary for their work. Phone bills and software are deductible for their business-use portion, a meal with a genuine business purpose only partly, and a home office only if the space is used regularly and exclusively for business. Everyday clothing almost never counts, even if you only wear it for work.

Home Office Deduction: Simplified vs. Actual Method

In short: Under the IRS simplified method, a US freelancer deducts $5 per square foot of home office, up to 300 square feet, for a maximum of $1,500 per year. The actual expense method deducts the office's percentage of housing costs such as rent or mortgage interest, utilities and insurance, and often produces a bigger deduction. Either way, the space must be used regularly and exclusively for business.

IRS Mileage Rate 2026: What It Covers and How to Track It

In short: For 2026 the IRS standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile for business miles driven from January 1 to June 30 and 76 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31. It covers gas, maintenance, repairs, insurance, registration and depreciation, while parking fees and tolls are deductible on top. Log each trip's date, miles driven and business purpose when it happens.

Making Tax Digital Exemptions: Who's Out of Scope for MTD

In short: You're out of scope for HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax if your qualifying income hasn't crossed £50,000, £30,000 or £20,000 in the relevant tax year, or you have no self-employment or property income. Over a threshold, you can apply for the digital exclusion exemption on grounds of age, disability or a health condition, location or religion.

Making Tax Digital for the Self-Employed: The Complete 2026-27 Guide

In short: HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax has applied since 6 April 2026 to UK sole traders and landlords with qualifying income (gross, before expenses) over £50,000: in 2026-27 they keep digital records, send four quarterly updates and file a final return by 31 January. The threshold falls to £30,000 from 6 April 2027 and £20,000 from 6 April 2028.

Missed an MTD Quarterly Update? Here's What Actually Happens

In short: If you were mandated into HMRC's Making Tax Digital from 6 April 2026, a late quarterly update earns no penalty point in the 2026-27 tax year. You still need to send the missed update: HMRC says you must send your quarterly updates before you can submit your tax return. Late payment and a late final declaration (due 31 January 2028) are still penalised.

MTD Client Onboarding: A Checklist for Accountants (April 2027 and April 2028 Waves)

In short: To onboard clients for HMRC's next Making Tax Digital waves, segment your book by qualifying income, contact April 2027 clients during 2026, standardise the records layer across clients, use the 2026-27 waiver to fix habits, and keep penalty explanations simple. Over £30,000 in 2025-26 means MTD from April 2027; over £20,000 in 2026-27 means April 2028.

MTD for Income Tax from April 2027: The £30,000 Threshold

If your self-employment or rental income was over £30,000 in the 2025-26 tax year, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax becomes mandatory for you from 6 April 2027. This is the second wave of the MTD rollout, following the £50,000 group that joined from April 2026, and it draws in a considerably larger number of sole traders and landlords. Here's exactly who's affected, why the current tax year matters more than most people realise, and what's worth setting up now rather than in March 2027.