5 min read · Updated 2026-06-19
If you are self-employed, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax turns your once-a-year Self Assessment into quarterly digital updates plus a year-end Final Declaration. It began on 6 April 2026, phased in by income.
The test is qualifying income — your gross turnover before expenses, plus any rental income. Not your profit.
Because it is the gross figure, a sole trader turning over £52,000 is in scope even if expenses leave a far smaller profit.
If your self-employed income is very small, the £1,000 trading allowance can be claimed instead of expenses — the first £1,000 of income is tax-free. But the trading allowance does not change the MTD threshold, which is still based on gross income.
If you work under the Construction Industry Scheme as a sole trader, you are self-employed for MTD and in scope on the same thresholds. Your gross qualifying income is measured before CIS deductions — the 20% your contractor takes does not reduce the figure. Your CIS deductions are reconciled at the Final Declaration, where they offset your tax bill and usually produce a refund.
It is a summary — running totals of your income and expenses by category, sent from compatible software. It is not a mini tax return, and no tax is due on it. The detail and the bill come together at the Final Declaration, which replaces your Self Assessment by 31 January.
The self-employed who breeze through MTD are the ones who keep records as they go. Plot keeps your income, expenses and tax position live through the year, so each quarterly deadline is just pressing send.
Gross turnover before expenses, combined with any rental income. It is not your profit, so you can be in scope even if your profit is small.
Yes. CIS subcontractors who are sole traders are self-employed for MTD and in scope on the same thresholds, measured on gross income before CIS deductions.
No. Each update is a summary of income and expenses with no tax due. The full picture and your tax bill come at the year-end Final Declaration.
They are reconciled at the Final Declaration and offset against your tax for the year, which usually results in a refund if too much was deducted.