Sign up as an individual for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Use the online service to sign your business up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and find out what to do next.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a new way of reporting property and self-employment income to HMRC. You’llYou must use software to keep digital records and send Income Tax updates instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return.updates.
If you’re an agent, there’s a different way to sign up your client for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
If you use an agent, they can sign you up to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
If you want to help us test and develop Making Tax Digital for Income Tax before 6 April 2024, you may be able to voluntarily sign up through your software provider now.
Before you signuse upMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax
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Check when you need to sign up, or if you can sign up voluntarily now.
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GetFindsoftwareoutthathowworkstowithuse Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
FindIf outyou howare able, and choose to usesign up voluntarily now, you will need to get software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
You cannot submit returns until you are using compatible software.
What you will need
You must have an accounting period that runs from 6 April to 5 April.
You’ll need your:
- business
name businesscollectingreceiving property incomeemailaccountingaddressNationalmethodInsurancesuchnumberas cash basis accounting or traditional accounting
You may also be asked for your:
accountingbusinessperiodname and address for self employment income sourcesaccountingthetypenaturesuchofasyourcashbusinessor(yourstandardtrade)accountingfor self employment income sources
You will only receive Making Tax Digital reminders if you set your preference to being contacted online.
To sign up, you must also be registered to file Self Assessment tax returns. You’ll need the Government Gateway user ID and password you use to file returns.
If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you sign up. You will need to give your National Insurance number and answer security questions, such as confirming your passport or driving license number.
Sign up
You can sign up now through a recognised provider who offers software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
If you already have software, you should contact your provider about signing up. You should also discuss this with your agent if you have one.
If you do not have software, you should choose from the list of recognised software available now and contact your chosen provider about the sign up process.
Check if you can voluntarily sign up now
You canmay be able to voluntarily sign up now if all of the following apply:
- your details are kept up to date with HMRC
- you have a National Insurance number
- you’re a UK resident
- you’re already registered for Self Assessment
- your accounting period aligns
to theto the tax year —formustexample,run from 6 April20212022 - you have submitted at least one Self Assessment tax return
you’rekeepingdigitalrecords- one or more of the following were included in your last return:
- an existing self-employment income
- a UK property income source
- a foreign property income source
- you’re up to date with your tax records — for example, you have no outstanding tax liabilities
You cannot sign up yet if you:
- need to report income
fromoranydeductionsotherfrom income sources such as employment, pension or student loan repayments - have an income tax charge — for example, high income Child Benefit charges or certain pension tax charges
- have a payment arrangement
donothaveanuptodateaddresswithHMRC- are a partner in a partnership
- are currently, or are going to be, bankrupt or insolvent
- are a Minister of religion, Lloyds underwriter or foster carer
haveareasigningthirduppartyoncapacitor,behalf of someone else (unless you are an agent) — this includes (but is not limitedto):to) if you are:trustedanhelpers- insolvency
practitionerspractitioner nomineesa nomineesolicitorsa solicitor
Get help
Help and support for Making Tax Digital.
Contact your software supplier if you need help creating business records or sending updates.
If you have another query about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, contact HMRC.
Last updated
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The steps to take and what you will need before using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax have been updated. The criteria for voluntarily signing up now has also been updated.
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Information to check if you can voluntarily sign up now has been added. Information on what to do after you’ve signed up has been removed as this is covered in the Using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax guidance.
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Information on what you'll need and before you sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax has been updated.
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Updated information on what to do after you've signed up.
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Added translation
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Information has been added to let you know that if you use an agent they can send you an authorisation request link.
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Register for a webinar on 29 July for information on the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax pilot.
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Welsh translation has been added.
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First published.
Update history
2024-04-26 13:57
On Monday 22 April information for users who want to voluntarily sign up now was updated as you can now use the sign up service instead of a software provider. Information about who can and cannot sign up voluntarily was updated.
2023-01-09 10:18
Welsh translation added.
2022-12-19 15:32
The date for helping to test and develop Making Tax Digital for Income Tax has been extended to 6 April 2026.
2022-11-30 12:58
The steps to take and what you will need before using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax have been updated. The criteria for voluntarily signing up now has also been updated.
2022-08-26 10:00
Information to check if you can voluntarily sign up now has been added. Information on what to do after you’ve signed up has been removed as this is covered in the Using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax guidance.