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

MTD for Income Tax from April 2028: The £20,000 Threshold

From 6 April 2028, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax extends to sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £20,000 in the 2026-27 tax year. It's the third and, so far, final wave of the rollout HMRC has confirmed. Because £20,000 is a relatively low bar for combined self-employment and property income, it brings in a large slice of the UK's smaller sole traders, part-time landlords, and side hustlers. Here's the full phase-in timeline, who the £20,000 threshold catches, and what's actually confirmed about where MTD goes from here.

MTD for Landlords: How Making Tax Digital Applies to Rental Income

In short: HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to UK landlords on exactly the same rules as the self-employed. Your gross rental income, before repairs, letting agent fees or mortgage interest, is added to any self-employment income, and over £50,000 in 2024-25 means MTD from 6 April 2026. The threshold falls to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028.

MTD Penalty Points Explained: How the System Works

In short: Under HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, each missed submission deadline (a quarterly update or the tax return) earns 1 point, and 4 points triggers a £200 penalty, with another £200 for each further miss at the threshold. Below the threshold, each point expires after 24 months. Late 2026-27 quarterly updates earn no points for those mandated from April 2026.

MTD Quarterly Update Deadlines: The Full 2026-27 Calendar

In short: For the 2026-27 tax year, HMRC's Making Tax Digital quarterly updates are due by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. Each update is cumulative from 6 April, so it covers the whole year to date, and nil updates are mandatory. The final declaration is due by 31 January after the tax year ends.

MTD Software vs Receipt Scanning Apps: What's the Difference?

In short: Under HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, MTD-recognised filing software sends your quarterly updates and final declaration to HMRC. A receipt-scanning app captures and categorises your expense records but never submits anything. Everyone in MTD needs filing software, used by them or their accountant; a records app is optional, and HMRC supports combining the two through digital links.

October 31 Tax Deadline: The Self-Lodger's Guide to Not Panicking

In short: The ATO deadline for individuals and sole traders who lodge their own tax return is 31 October, for the financial year that ended 30 June. In 2026, 31 October falls on a Saturday, so a return lodged by Monday 2 November 2026 is still on time. If you register with a registered tax agent by 31 October, you generally inherit their later lodgment program.

Qualifying Income for MTD Explained: How It's Calculated

In short: For HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, qualifying income is your gross self-employment turnover plus your gross property income, before expenses. PAYE employment income, dividends, savings interest and pension income don't count. Over £50,000 in 2024-25 means MTD from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 in 2025-26 from 6 April 2027, and over £20,000 in 2026-27 from 6 April 2028.

Quarterly Estimated Tax Dates for 2026 and 2027

In short: IRS estimated tax payments for the 2026 tax year are due April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. For the 2027 tax year, the dates set by law are April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2027, and January 18, 2028, though the IRS has not yet published the 2027 Form 1040-ES.

QuickBooks Self-Employed Is Closed to New Users: What to Use Instead in 2027

In short: Intuit no longer accepts new QuickBooks Self-Employed signups and points new subscribers to QuickBooks Solopreneur. The best alternative depends on what you used QBSE for: full QuickBooks, Xero or Wave for full bookkeeping, Keeper for bank-linked deduction finding with tax filing, Everlance or Hurdlr for mileage, and Taxr (our own app) for turning receipts into Schedule C records.

Schedule C Expense Categories, Explained Line by Line

In short: Schedule C (Form 1040) is where US sole proprietors and single-member LLCs report business income and expenses to the IRS. Expenses go on fixed numbered lines such as advertising, car and truck expenses, contract labor, office expense, supplies, travel and meals, and the net profit left over is what income tax and self-employment tax are calculated on. A home office has its own separate calculation.

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