Free until April 2027.
Just MTD - no banking, no VAT, no full accounting suite to learn. Submit your quarterly updates in minutes - type your numbers in directly or import a spreadsheet. Completely free for the 2026-27 tax year. Just £19.99/year from April 2027.
Free for the entire 2026-27 tax year.
The Problem
From April 2026, sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 must keep digital records and file quarterly updates with HMRC. That means you need compatible software. Most options bundle in banking, VAT, payroll and full accounting - features built for bigger businesses that you'll never use. Affordable MTD does one job: get your quarterly updates and final declaration filed, simply. It's completely free for the entire first tax year.
How It Works
Type your numbers in or import a spreadsheet. We handle the HMRC part.
Securely link your HMRC account with one click. We use the same official Government Gateway login you already have.
Type your income and expenses in directly, or upload a spreadsheet or CSV. Our AI automatically categorises your transactions into the right HMRC categories and is never used to train AI models. You review and confirm before anything is submitted.
Check the summary, click submit. Your quarterly update is filed. You'll see a confirmation with a timestamp and reference.
Pricing
Real prices - what you actually pay. Competitors' prices shown including VAT where applicable, as published on their websites (last updated August 2026). Check each provider for current pricing.
| Software | 2026-27 | 2027-28 onwards |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable MTD | FREE | £19.99/yr |
| 123 Sheets | £11.70 inc. VAT | £23.40 |
| VitalTax | £36.00 inc. VAT | £36.00 |
| Coconut (MTD) | £108.00 | £108.00 |
| Sage Start | £144.00 | £144.00 |
| Xero Starter | £180.00 | £180.00 |
| FreeAgent | £288.00 | £288.00 |
Why Affordable MTD
Built specifically for MTD compliance. No invoicing, no payroll, no project management - just the tax bit, done properly.
No bank feeds, no VAT, no invoicing, no payroll, no full accounting suite to learn. We do one job - quarterly updates and your final declaration - so there's less to figure out and nothing extra to pay for.
Type your totals in directly or import a spreadsheet. Either way, you're done in minutes - not wrestling with accounting software you don't need.
AI analyses your transactions and sorts them into the right expense categories automatically. Your financial data is never sold or used to train AI models. You just review and confirm.
See exactly which quarterly updates are due, what's been submitted, and what's coming up. No guesswork, no calendar reminders needed.
Self-employment and UK property income handled together. No need for two products, no extra charges, no bank account requirement. Foreign property income isn't supported yet - it's on the roadmap.
Your submissions reach HMRC through the same secure, official connection used by Xero, Sage, and every other recognised provider - at a fraction of the price. See our listing on GOV.UK →
AI checks your data for deductions you might have overlooked. For example, HMRC's flat rate for working from home is £10 to £26 a month depending on hours - up to £312 a year off your taxable profit - and many sole traders never claim it.
AI reviews your figures before you submit - flagging errors, unusual amounts, and missing categories that could attract HMRC attention. We also support HMRC Assist, so any feedback HMRC has on your figures is shown with your tax estimate.
Every quarterly update logged with timestamps, references, and source data. If HMRC ever asks questions, your trail is already there.
Testimonials
A few words from people who've used Affordable MTD to file their quarterly updates.
"I'm really chuffed with just how simple this package is. It's helped me get through the first MTD submission and I'm feeling confident about going forward. It's very easy to use and practical for non tech people like me with simple accounts."
"As someone completely new to Making Tax Digital, I was expecting the process to be complicated, but it was straightforward and quick to complete... For landlords looking for an affordable and uncomplicated MTD solution, I would definitely recommend Affordable MTD."
"The software is very easy to use and the support desk is proactive, quick to respond and helpful. I thought that this transition to the HMRC Making Tax Digital for Income Tax would be a real grind, but Affordable MTD seem to have made it pretty straight forward."
"Very simple to use and navigate which is a massive relief for an old technophobe like me... I'm now confident about dealing with MTD and their customer service in replying promptly to questions is excellent."
"Affordable MTD made the process very simple and easy to follow compared to the larger accounting offerings, some of which were not really free and you only discovered this when you got into the process. Affordable MTD were upfront on the cost."
"Really easy to set up, use, and to connect to HMRC - info transmitted immediately! Amazing that it's free for the first year, and then very affordable thereafter :)"
At a glance
| What it is | HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) bridging software for UK sole traders and landlords |
|---|---|
| Price | Free for the 2026-27 tax year (to 5 April 2027), then £19.99 a year. No tiers, no per-submission fees |
| Income types | Self-employment and UK property income. Foreign property is on the roadmap |
| What you can submit | Quarterly updates, annual adjustments and the final declaration |
| How you enter figures | Import a CSV or Excel file (with AI categorisation into HMRC categories), or type figures in. Consolidated expenses supported for turnover under £90,000 |
| Quarter types | Standard (6 April to 5 July, etc.) or calendar (1 April to 30 June, etc.), chosen per tax year |
| Not included | Bank feeds, invoicing, VAT returns, payroll |
| Who makes it | Nesbitt Web Ltd, registered in England and Wales (company 09417982) |
| HMRC listing | GOV.UK software finder |
| Who must use MTD | Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income (self-employment plus UK and foreign property income, before expenses) over £50,000 from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028 |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 quarterly deadlines | 7 August 2026, 7 November 2026, 7 February 2027 and 7 May 2027 (same for standard and calendar quarters) |
| Final declaration | Replaces the Self Assessment return. Due 31 January 2028 for 2026-27 |
| Penalties | No penalty points for late quarterly updates in 2026-27. From 2027-28, a point per missed deadline and a £200 penalty at 4 points |
Facts checked 4 October 2026. Sources: GOV.UK guidance on Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. For full detail see our guides to MTD deadlines, qualifying income and penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
The next MTD quarterly update is due 7 November 2026. Affordable MTD is live and HMRC-recognised - sign up and start filing today. The entire 2026-27 tax year is free.
Start using Affordable MTD for free →No payment required. Free for the 2026-27 tax year.