Neatly Blog

MTD guides for UK sole traders

Practical, accurate articles on Making Tax Digital โ€” from who's affected and what to submit, to how to avoid the mistakes that trigger penalties.

12 min read

When Do You Need to Register for VAT? A Sole Trader's Guide

The UK VAT registration threshold is ยฃ90,000 on a rolling 12-month basis. This guide explains when you must register, the difference between mandatory and voluntary registration, how to complete HMRC's online VAT registration process, and what MTD obligations kick in after you're registered.

Read guide โ†’
9 min read

MTD for Landlords: How Making Tax Digital Affects Your Rental Income Reporting

MTD ITSA is now mandatory for landlords with gross property income above ยฃ50,000. This guide covers who qualifies, the four quarterly deadlines, deductible expenses including mortgage interest relief, and the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings regime from April 2025.

Read guide โ†’
11 min read

How to Register for Self Assessment: Step-by-Step Guide for Sole Traders

Self Assessment registration is the first tax obligation every UK sole trader encounters โ€” and missing the October 5 deadline is more common than you'd think. This guide covers who must register, how to use Government Gateway, what a UTR number is, and how MTD ITSA changes your obligations once you're in the system.

Read guide โ†’
12 min read

VAT Flat Rate Scheme: Is It Right for Your Small Business?

The flat rate scheme lets you pay a single fixed percentage on your VAT-inclusive turnover instead of tracking every penny of input VAT. But since 2017's limited cost trader rule set a 16.5% rate for low-cost businesses, the scheme's benefits have been significantly curtailed for service-based sole traders. This guide covers how it works, which rate applies to your sector, the limited cost trader threshold, worked calculation examples, and when standard VAT accounting beats it.

Read guide โ†’
8 min read

MTD ITSA Penalties: What Happens If You File Late

Miss a quarterly deadline and you earn a penalty point. Hit four points and HMRC issues a ยฃ200 fine โ€” with another ยฃ200 for every late filing after that. Here's exactly how the points-based penalty system works, the late payment charges that kick in at day 15, and what to do if you've already slipped behind.

Read article โ†’
8 min read

Neatly vs QuickBooks: Which MTD Software Is Right for Your Sole Trader Business?

Both are HMRC-compatible MTD software. But that's where the similarity ends. An honest comparison of price, AI categorisation, setup time, and quarterly filing โ€” so you can choose with confidence.

Read comparison โ†’
โญ Start here
9 min read

MTD for Income Tax: What UK Sole Traders Need to Know in 2026

MTD ITSA is live. If you're a sole trader earning over ยฃ50,000, you're already inside the regime. This comprehensive guide covers who's affected, the key April 6 / August 7 dates, what software is required, and the penalties for non-compliance โ€” everything you need to know in one place.

Read article โ†’
7 min read

5 MTD Mistakes Sole Traders Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Missing quarterly deadlines. Using non-compatible software. Mixing personal and business transactions. Not registering until the last week. These are the five most common MTD compliance mistakes โ€” and exactly how to avoid each one before the August 7 deadline.

Read article โ†’
10 min read

MTD Quarterly Filing: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide

A walkthrough of the entire MTD quarterly submission process โ€” what records to keep, how to categorise transactions into HMRC's expense categories, the filing timeline for each of the four quarterly windows, and how to submit in minutes once your records are current.

Read article โ†’

Ready to get MTD-compliant?

Neatly connects to your bank, categorises transactions automatically, and handles your quarterly submissions. First deadline is 7 August 2026.

Start free โ†’ Check my MTD status