What we should have is:
1. A free, gov provided, secure website that can be used for people to submit their data. (I will literally need to provide 2 numbers, 4 times a year, but this apparently requires a proprietary intermediary!)
2. Secure, open, clearly documented APIs that can be built on to create open source, auditable solutions for #makingTaxDigital
#makingTaxDigital providers for #selfEmployed
VAT direct - run by one man, promises to be free for basic use, mentions #libreOffice Don't expect pretty!
abratax: nice looking website but no prices known (I asked). Start is free but what then? Why commit without knowing the bill?
123e-filing: DO NOT TOUCH. Extremely poor security and data management.
taxnav - free for first year then £72.
absolute tax - excel based, tested on "apple machines with excel" ... unlikely to work
The #HMRC are making people use #MakingTaxDigital - online submissions for tax data.
Instead of this being through their own secure site, they are requiring we use 3rd party private providers to do this.
Just tried one. Buggy as hell. Sent three characters of my entered password back to me in email to confirm(!) Requires my actual, direct username and password for the gov website 😱 (no oauth).
Looked like whole thing vibe coded. And I just sent them a shit tonne of personal data.
‘Death of the traditional tax return’ as biggest shake-up in 30 years hits South Wales
From April 6, a radical new regime known as Making Tax Digital (MTD) will become mandatory for anyone with a gross income above £50,000 per year, marking the end of an era for paper-based filing.
Experts have described the overhaul as the most significant change to the UK tax system since the introduction of self-assessment nearly 30 years ago in 1997.
Regional accountancy firm Azets, which has offices in Swansea and Cardiff, is urging local business owners to act now to avoid falling foul of the new HMRC rules.
Under the new system, qualifying individuals will no longer be able to submit a single annual return; instead, they must keep digital records and provide updates to the taxman every single quarter.
Fraser Campbell, UK Head of ABAS at Azets, who is warning South Wales businesses to prepare for the “death of the traditional tax return.”Fraser Campbell, UK Head of ABAS at Azets, has confirmed that the shift represents a major digital reporting obligation for hundreds of thousands of landlords and sole traders.
“MTD truly signifies the death of the traditional income tax return,” Mr Campbell has said, adding that the April deadline is now “fast approaching.”
The changes are set to affect an estimated 864,000 individuals nationwide from next month, with that number predicted to soar to nearly three million within just three years.
While the initial phase targets those earning over £50,000, the threshold is set to drop to £30,000 in April 2027 and further still to £20,000 by 2028.
HMRC has said the move will bring the tax system closer to “real-time,” providing businesses with more accurate financial information throughout the year.
However, the transition requires the use of specific MTD-compatible software, and experts are warning that those who haven’t yet modernised their processes could face a scramble to comply.
“Preparation, planning ahead and taking advice at the right time are key for compliance,” Mr Campbell has stated, urging those in South Wales to check their qualifying income immediately.
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HMRC Issues New Digital Tax Filing Mandate for High Earners
HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts April 6, 2026. Find out if you need to file quarterly updates if you earn over £50,000.
#HMRC #MakingTaxDigital #UKTax #SelfAssessment #IncomeTax
https://newsletter.tf/hmrc-new-digital-tax-filing-rules-for-uk-earners-over-50000-april-2026/
Starting April 6, 2026, UK taxpayers earning over £50,000 will need to submit tax updates every three months instead of once a year.
#HMRC #MakingTaxDigital #UKTax #SelfAssessment #IncomeTax
https://newsletter.tf/hmrc-new-digital-tax-filing-rules-for-uk-earners-over-50000-april-2026/
Fellow freelancers: What software are you using for Making Tax Digital? I am going to have to change software from April but there are so many options that I have no idea where to start. The only one someone has mentioned is Xero but that seems geared towards larger businesses - I am a sole trader, not registered for VAT, raising 3-6 invoices a month.
(I want to know what people are *using*, not what they've heard of or have a referral code for)
artfulrobot
Editor
michael
NewsletterTF
concretedog
Paul
MidgePhoto