Can my accountant do MTD for me?

---

If you are self-employed in the UK, your accountant can definitely take care of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for you. You do not have to navigate the new digital tax rules or submit the new quarterly updates all by yourself.

---

The Golden Rule: They Must Be an Authorised HMRC Agent

Before your accountant can press “submit” on any of your MTD updates, there is one crucial hurdle to clear: they must be an authorised HMRC agent. * What this means: You are formally telling HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that you give this specific accountant permission to handle your tax affairs and communicate with HMRC on your behalf.

• Why it matters: Without this official link, HMRC’s systems will simply block your accountant from submitting your quarterly updates or viewing your tax account. It is a vital security step to protect your data.
• How to set it up: It is a very simple process. Your accountant will usually generate a digital authorisation request through their HMRC portal and send you a link to approve, or they will guide you to authorise them via your own online Government Gateway account.

How Your Accountant Will Handle MTD

MTD for Income Tax is a big change. Starting in April 2026 (for those earning over £50,000) and April 2027 (for those earning over £30,000), the traditional once-a-year Self Assessment tax return is being replaced.

Here is exactly how an authorised accountant takes the stress out of the new system:

• Software Setup: MTD requires HMRC-recognised software. Your accountant will either provide this software for you (like Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent) or use their own special “bridging” software to connect your current spreadsheets directly to HMRC.
• Digital Record Keeping: The days of handing over a shoebox full of paper receipts in January are over. Your accountant will help you maintain your income and expenses digitally throughout the year to stay compliant.
• Quarterly Updates: Under MTD, you have to send a summary of your income and expenses to HMRC every three months. Your accountant will handle these four quarterly filings for you, making sure they are accurate and submitted before the deadline.
• The Final Declaration: At the end of the tax year, your accountant will make any final accounting adjustments, claim your tax reliefs, add in any other income you might have, and submit your final declaration (this is the step that officially replaces the old annual tax return).

What is Left for You to Do?

Even with a brilliant, authorised agent doing the heavy lifting, you still need to keep your side of the street clean:

1. Keep Your Evidence: You still need to keep hold of your receipts and invoices (digital photos or scans are perfect).
2. Send Data Regularly: Your accountant can only file a quarterly update if they have your numbers! You will need to get into the habit of sharing your bank statements, sales invoices, and expenses with them much more frequently than before.
3. Pay the Bill: Your accountant will crunch the numbers and tell you exactly what you owe, but you are still the one who has to make the actual payment to HMRC.

The Bottom Line

You do not need to become a software expert or a tax wizard to deal with Making Tax Digital. Passing the job over to a professional is the easiest way to stay compliant and avoid late penalties—just ensure you officially set them up as your authorised HMRC agent first!

---