Sole traders and businesses

Guides for the self-employed: sole traders, side businesses alongside a job, several businesses, CIS subcontractors, partnerships, cash basis and VAT.

MTD for sole traders

What Making Tax Digital means if you’re self-employed: the records you need, what you send each quarter, and how to get ready.

6 min read

Sole traders and businesses

MTD with a job and a side business

How MTD for Income Tax applies if you have a salaried job and a side business or rental income.

3 min read

Sole traders and businesses

MTD with more than one business

How MTD for Income Tax works if you have several trades or a mix of trading and rental income.

3 min read

Sole traders and businesses

Cash basis under MTD

How the cash basis works for sole traders and landlords in MTD for Income Tax, and when traditional accounting may suit you better.

4 min read

Sole traders and businesses

MTD for CIS subcontractors

How MTD for Income Tax applies to self-employed construction workers paid under the Construction Industry Scheme.

3 min read

Sole traders and businesses

MTD and partnerships

When partnerships will join MTD for Income Tax, and how being a partner affects your own MTD position.

3 min read

Sole traders and businesses

MTD for VAT vs Income Tax

How Making Tax Digital for VAT and for Income Tax differ, whether your VAT software will work, and how to handle both if you’re a VAT-registered sole trader.

5 min read

Sole traders and businesses

Stopping a business under MTD

What stopping a business means for MTD for Income Tax, including ceased income, the final declaration and opting out.

3 min read

Browse other topics

Getting started

Who needs MTD for Income Tax, when it starts, exemptions, and how to sign up.

Deadlines and penalties

Quarterly update and final declaration dates, penalty points, late payment penalties and appeals.

Records, updates and software

Digital records, quarterly updates, the final declaration and choosing compatible software.

Landlords and property

How MTD applies to rental income, joint ownership, holiday lets and overseas property.

Sole traders and businesses

How MTD applies to the self-employed, side businesses, CIS, partnerships and VAT.