HMRC-Recognised Software

Making Tax Digital
for Income Tax
made simple

MTD ITSA is mandatory from April 2026. SubmitFox handles your quarterly updates with a simple CSV upload — no accountant, no complexity.

HMRC-Recognised Software
MTD Bridging Software
No payment until you submit
MTD ITSA — Mandatory rollout dates
From April 2026
Self-employed & landlords earning over £50,000
Quarterly updates required. Self Assessment replaced by Final Declaration.
From April 2027
Self-employed & landlords earning over £30,000
Threshold drops. More businesses brought into scope.
TBC (future)
Lower thresholds — likely £20,000
HMRC has indicated further expansion. Date not yet confirmed.
What is MTD ITSA?

HMRC is replacing the annual tax return with quarterly digital updates

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment requires self-employed people and landlords to submit a summary of income and expenses every quarter — using compatible software only.

Think of it as four small check-ins per year instead of one big annual return. Each quarter you submit a summary. At year end you make a Final Declaration — replacing the traditional SA100.

Get started for free →
Mandatory from
April 2026
Income threshold
£50,000+
Updates per year
4 quarters
Year-end deadline
31 January
Does MTD ITSA apply to you?

Self-employed people and landlords above the threshold

In scope from April 2026:

  • Self-employed sole traders earning over £50,000
  • Landlords with rental income over £50,000
  • Combined self-employment + property income over £50,000
  • Earning over £30,000 from April 2027

Not in scope:

  • Employed only (PAYE) — not required
  • Limited companies — not in scope for MTD ITSA
  • Partnerships — not in scope yet
Self-employed
In scope
Landlords
In scope
PAYE only
Not required
Limited companies
Not required
The quarterly cycle

Four updates a year — each takes minutes

Each quarter you upload a summary of income and expenses. HMRC receive a running picture of your finances — no big year-end surprise.

Quarter 1
6 Apr – 5 Jul
Deadline: 7 Aug
Submit income & expenses for the first quarter of the tax year.
Quarter 2
6 Jul – 5 Oct
Deadline: 7 Nov
Second quarter update. Running totals updated in HMRC's systems.
Quarter 3
6 Oct – 5 Jan
Deadline: 7 Feb
Third update. HMRC's estimate of your tax for the year becomes clearer.
Quarter 4
6 Jan – 5 Apr
Deadline: 7 May
Final quarterly update. Full year picture submitted to HMRC.

End of year: Final Declaration — replaces the traditional Self Assessment SA100. You confirm all figures, add any other income (employment, dividends, savings), and pay any tax due. Deadline: 31 January — same as always.

How SubmitFox handles MTD

Three steps. No accountant. No jargon.

Whether you use a spreadsheet or accounting software, SubmitFox bridges your records directly to HMRC every quarter.

1

Download the template

Get our pre-formatted CSV template for your income type. Already use a spreadsheet? We recognise 50+ common column formats automatically.

Free download — no account required
2

Enter your figures

Enter your year-to-date income and expenses. SubmitFox validates your figures, flags issues, and shows an instant tax estimate before you submit.

Real-time HMRC validation
3

Submit directly to HMRC

One click submits your quarterly update via HMRC's MTD API. You receive a confirmation reference immediately. Done until next quarter.

Direct HMRC MTD API connection
Simple, transparent pricing

Pay only when you submit — free to start

No subscription. No monthly fee. No upfront cost. Complete your return for free and pay only when you're ready to submit to HMRC.

  • Q1, Q2 & Q3 — £6.99 each
  • Q4 + Final Declaration — £29.99 (includes year-end filing)
  • Self-employment & property income supported
  • CSV / Excel upload — no manual data entry
  • Direct HMRC MTD API submission
  • Submission receipts and digital audit trail
Start free — pay when you submit

No credit card required to start

Q1, Q2 & Q3 — per quarter
£6.99
pay on submit · no subscription
Q4 + Final Declaration
£29.99
includes year-end filing · replaces SA100
Full year (Q1–Q4 + Final Declaration)
£50.96
pay as you go · no upfront cost
FAQ

Common questions about MTD ITSA

What happens if I don't comply with MTD ITSA?

HMRC will issue penalty points for late or missing quarterly updates, similar to the existing points-based system for VAT. Once you accumulate enough points, financial penalties apply. From April 2026 this system replaces the old fixed-rate penalties for income tax.

Do I still need to file a Self Assessment tax return?

The traditional Self Assessment SA100 is replaced by the MTD Final Declaration — submitted at the end of the tax year. The deadline remains 31 January. The process is similar but done through MTD-compatible software like SubmitFox instead of the HMRC portal.

Can I use my existing spreadsheet?

Yes. SubmitFox accepts CSV or Excel uploads and automatically recognises 50+ common column formats. If your spreadsheet has date, income, and expense columns, SubmitFox will map them correctly. You can also download our template to use from the start.

What if I have both self-employment AND rental income?

You'll need to submit quarterly updates for each income source separately. SubmitFox supports both self-employment and property income in the same account. Each source is submitted as a separate quarterly update to HMRC.

Is SubmitFox officially recognised by HMRC for MTD?

Yes. SubmitFox is HMRC-recognised software for MTD and submits directly through HMRC's official MTD API — the same API used by all compatible MTD software.

What if my income varies and I'm not sure if I'm in scope?

The £50,000 threshold applies to your qualifying income from self-employment and property combined for the previous tax year. If you're unsure, start free — SubmitFox will show you whether MTD ITSA applies to you. See our guides for more detail.

What is bridging software and does SubmitFox provide it?

Bridging software connects your existing records (spreadsheets, accounting software exports) to HMRC's MTD API. SubmitFox is bridging software — you keep using whatever you already use to track income and expenses, and SubmitFox handles the HMRC connection.

Don't wait until April 2026

Get set up now so your first quarterly update takes minutes, not hours. Free until you submit.

Start for free →
No payment until you submit HMRC recognised software Save and return anytime