{"id":26992,"date":"2026-01-08T16:45:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=26992"},"modified":"2026-04-22T17:22:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:22:03","slug":"new-to-mtd-for-income-tax-avoid-these-5-misunderstandings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/new-to-mtd-for-income-tax-avoid-these-5-misunderstandings\/","title":{"rendered":"New to MTD for Income Tax? Avoid these 6 misunderstandings"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNew to MTD for Income Tax? Avoid these 6 misunderstandings\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMTD for Income Tax has started, and it&#8217;s easy to get things wrong if you believe the incorrect assumptions some people have been making. Here&#8217;s what you need to know.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-08T16:45:25+00:00\">8 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"New to MTD for Income Tax? Avoid these 6 misunderstandings\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/new-to-mtd-for-income-tax-avoid-these-5-misunderstandings\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/making-tax-digital\/sole-trader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax<\/a> is one of the most significant changes to the UK tax system in decades. It began on 6 April 2026, and is being further rolled out across the coming decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But misconceptions about what MTD actually involves are still widespread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a sole trader or landlord, understanding the truth is essential. Misunderstanding the rules could lead to non-compliance, unnecessary stress, wasted costs, and even penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we\u2019ll tackle six common misconceptions about MTD for Income Tax\u2014and explain what you really need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-1-each-quarterly-update-is-a-mini-tax-return\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 1: Each quarterly update is a mini tax return<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-2-mtd-only-applies-to-me-if-i-m-vat-registered\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 2: MTD only applies to me if I&rsquo;m VAT registered<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-3-penalties-don-t-apply-in-the-first-year\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 3: Penalties don&rsquo;t apply in the first year<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-4-mtd-is-just-more-red-tape-from-hmrc\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 4: MTD Is just more red tape from HMRC<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-5-spreadsheets-are-banned-under-mtd-for-income-tax\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 5: Spreadsheets are banned under MTD for Income Tax<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misconception-6-mtd-means-you-don-t-keep-paperwork-or-pdfs\" data-level=\"2\">Misconception 6: MTD means you don&#8217;t keep paperwork or PDFs<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-what-you-need-to-do-now\" data-level=\"2\">Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What you need to do now<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Infographic: Your MTD checklist (interactive)<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-8050b979-0c1a-4a71-89e8-1d9551db8a86\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax checklist<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-557715883-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-557715883-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-1-each-quarterly-update-is-a-mini-tax-return\">Misconception 1: Each quarterly update is a mini tax return<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most persistent myths is that quarterly updates under MTD are equivalent to submitting a full tax return every three months. Even major newspapers have fallen for this misinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s just not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quarterly updates are details of business income and expenses to that point, sent to HMRC via MTD-compatible software. If your income is less than \u00a390,000, you can send just a total income and expenses summary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s all that&#8217;s required. The purpose of quarterly updates provide you and HMRC with an in-year snapshot of your tax position, but they don\u2019t replace the annual tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nor do you have to pay tax quarterly. The way you make tax payments doesn&#8217;t change with MTD for Income Tax. Most people will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-payment-on-account\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pay on account<\/a> by 31 July and 31 January, with any additional balance payable by 31 January, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quarterly updates aren\u2019t legally binding and you won\u2019t get penalised if they\u2019re not 100% correct. All you need to provide are the running totals of your income and expenditure. If you\u2019re using accounting software, the data for this will already be there, so it\u2019s going to be little more than pressing a button to submit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll still need to provide a digital tax return on 31 January, and only there will you need to include things like the following that are usually found on tax returns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adjustments for reliefs and allowances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other sources of income (e.g., employment, dividends)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any corrections to earlier estimates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of quarterly updates as progress reports rather than the full story. They help HMRC\u2014and you\u2014stay on top of your tax position throughout the year, but the yearly tax return on 31 January remains the definitive calculation\u2014just as it always has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-2-mtd-only-applies-to-me-if-i-m-vat-registered\">Misconception 2: MTD only applies to me if I\u2019m VAT registered<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the MTD rollout from the government started with VAT, many assume MTD for Income Tax only applies to VAT-registered businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, MTD for Income Tax is a separate mandate. Whether or not you\u2019re already using MTD for VAT is irrelevant. Many businesses will use one, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a sole trader or landlord with qualifying income, you\u2019ll need to comply\u2014even if you\u2019re not VAT registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rollout of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-for-income-tax-what-it-means-for-trades-and-skilled-workers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MTD for Income Tax<\/a> is phased as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>April 2026: Businesses and landlords with qualifying income over \u00a350,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 2027: Qualifying income over \u00a330,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 2028: Qualifying income over \u00a320,000 (subject to legislation)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you fall into the latter two brackets, start preparing now. Waiting until the last minute could leave you scrambling for software and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s worth adding that the penalties for both MTD for VAT, and MTD for Income Tax, are entirely separate\u2014although they work in the same way. In other words, a penalty for getting something wrong to do with MTD for VAT will have no impact on any penalty count you might have for MTD for Income Tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-3-penalties-don-t-apply-in-the-first-year\">Misconception 3: Penalties don\u2019t apply in the first year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This one\u2019s got some truth to it, but care needs to be taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-for-income-tax-soft-landing-period-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HMRC announced a soft landing for penalties<\/a> in the first year of MTD for Income Tax. This means late quarterly submissions don\u2019t attract penalty points initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, this doesn\u2019t mean you can ignore the rules. It doesn\u2019t mean you can be late with other deadlines, such as that of the digital tax return on 31 January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The soft landing is designed to ease the transition\u2014not to delay compliance. You\u2019ll still need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep digital records<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit updates on time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use MTD-compatible software<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Penalties apply from as of next year, though, so use the first year to build good habits and avoid future issues. Don&#8217;t use it to avoid your responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">E-Book: Your Guide to MTD for Income Tax<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-626d6b26-aa95-4f75-a5a0-9cce8bff833f\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get Your Guide to MTD for Income Tax<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/cta-mtd-guide.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"A woman reading a guide about MTD for Income Tax\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/cta-mtd-guide.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-4-mtd-is-just-more-red-tape-from-hmrc\">Misconception 4: MTD Is just more red tape from HMRC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s understandable to view any changing mandatory requirements as yet more red tape. But the truth is that not only is there no extra red tape once MTD is up and running for you, but the existing red tape around doing your taxes will be hugely reduced. That&#8217;s the whole point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMRC is introducing MTD for Income Tax to help businesses do their taxes better, and to have superior insight into their taxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, upon submitting each quarterly update, HMRC provides an estimate of your tax bill. There\u2019s no need to set aside a nebulous amount of cash to pay your bill. This helps cash flow enormously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By enforcing the use of MTD-ready software, HMRC is ensuring that all businesses benefit from modern digital advances such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduced errors: Digital records minimise mistakes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time savings: Automated processes cut down paperwork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better visibility: Quarterly updates give you a clearer picture of your tax position throughout the year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, modern cloud accounting software like Sage Accounting brings AI to small businesses in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-copilot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sage Copilot<\/a>. This is like having your own dedicated AI-powered productivity assistant, monitoring your accounting 24\/7 and telling you about things you need to know and do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than seeing MTD as a chore, think of it as an opportunity to modernise your financial processes. It&#8217;s finally time to get away from paperwork and go digital. The vast majority of businesses find that adopting digital tools improves efficiency and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-5-spreadsheets-are-banned-under-mtd-for-income-tax\">Misconception 5: Spreadsheets are banned under MTD for Income Tax<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is incorrect. You can use spreadsheets for MTD as much as it helps you, provided you understand the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-an-mtd-digital-link\/\">digital linking rules<\/a>, and add-in a way to submit data to HMRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While spreadsheets can play a role in your business tax accounting, they must use bridging software that connects to HMRC\u2019s systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, using a spreadsheet to input manual tax records without this connection won\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MTD is about digital record-keeping and direct submission. This means using software that can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintain digital records of income and expenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit quarterly updates automatically<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Handle end-of-year adjustments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investing in compliant software now will save headaches later. It\u2019s also an opportunity to streamline your processes and reduce errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misconception-6-mtd-means-you-don-t-keep-paperwork-or-pdfs\"><strong>Misconception 6: MTD means you don&#8217;t keep paperwork or PDFs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MTD for Income Tax does not remove the need to keep original evidence of income and expenditure transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Invoices, receipts, bank statements, till receipts, and other source documents\u2014HMRC may still request to see these up to five years after the 31 January deadline each year, to verify your figures. Failing to keep them could lead to penalties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paperwork can be kept as-is in a secure location, or you can digitalise it by taking scans or phone snapshots&nbsp;(provided you capture all the data\u2014be careful of sheets that are double-sided!). Digital files like PDF bills should be saved in a secure location, too, to ensure they aren\u2019t accidentally deleted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what does MTD change? In addition to these traditional records, you must maintain digital records of income and expenditure. These digital records should include details such as dates, amounts, and categories, recorded on a transaction-by-transaction basis within approved software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of MTD as an extra layer of compliance, not a replacement. Your paper or scanned documents provide the audit trail, while digital records make reporting easier and reduce errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Can Sage make you a success?<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Learn for yourself how customers are enjoying success with Sage solutions that are transforming their businesses and helping them thrive.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/success-stories\/?Markets=&#123;84A0E19E-BE0A-41E8-8841-C20C3A69F52E&#125;&#038;page=1&#038;Products=&#123;CA2CE964-6A66-4DA4-8F8F-340FA28C51E3&#125;,&#123;E61B8273-2D42-45FE-A143-D52CB0827431&#125;,&#123;FB43EC9E-4B20-4F0D-BECF-55881FDCF4E4&#125;\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"cta-id-28610\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Read their stories<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1214\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1181224214-1214x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1181224214-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-what-you-need-to-do-now\">Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What you need to do now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preparing for MTD for Income Tax doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming, but it does require planning. Here are the key steps to take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-choose-mtd-ready-software\">1. Choose MTD-ready software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Identify MTD-compatible software that suits your business size and complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider whether you need bridging software for spreadsheets or a full accounting solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for features like automated quarterly submissions, expense tracking, and integration with your bank feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-start-digital-record-keeping\">2. Start digital record-keeping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Move away from manual records now. Begin capturing income and expenses digitally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ensure your records include dates, amounts, and VAT details (if applicable). Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoentry.com\/small-medium-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data entry automation<\/a> tools to extract data from receipts and bills without hassle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The earlier you start, the easier the transition will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-educate-your-team\">3. Educate your team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you employ people, ensure they understand what MTD for Income Tax requires. While it\u2019s solely your responsibility to get MTD right, and not theirs, they obviously feed into the way you work. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This isn\u2019t just about educating those who work with numbers. It can mean educating team members who make purchases, for example, because they\u2019ll need to ensure digital records are created for expenditure. You might need to change the way team members issue invoices, too, in order to be MTD compliant. For example, if you provide services, then team members can issue invoices electronically, on-site, once the job is complete. They can even collect payment there and then, which can be a huge boost to cash flow. Sage Accounting empowers both these two breakthroughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share resources, run meetings, or create emails to dispel common myths about MTD for Income Tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MTD for Income Tax is a fundamental shift in how tax is reported. By understanding what\u2019s required\u2014and avoiding these misconceptions\u2014you can stay compliant and even improve your business processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key takeaway is that quarterly updates aren\u2019t full tax returns, spreadsheets need bridging software, and preparation started yesterday. But you can catch-up by starting right now. Don\u2019t let myths derail your compliance journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">E-Book: Switching from Self Assessment to Making Tax Digital<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Worried about following MTD&#8217;s rules? This brief yet comprehensive guide explains what you need to know: How you do accounting now, and how you should do it in future.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-3b52a309-fae9-49fa-a235-03fc76c551a0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get MTD for Income Tax: A Guide to Switching From Self Assessment<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1385092066-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1385092066-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/mtd-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaking Tax Digital for businesses\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/making-tax-digital-for-income-tax\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-30636 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-mtd-business tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_737875163-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Man at a desk working through papers on a computer\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_737875163-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_737875163-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_737875163-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-03T11:41:28+01:00\">3 July, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">19 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-quarterly-update\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tYour first MTD quarterly update: The countdown has begun (7 August 2026)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tHere&#8217;s the what, why, when, and how of making your first MTD for Income Tax quarterly update. It&#8217;s all you need to know in simple language\u2014no jargon.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-30564 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-costs tag-business-finances tag-business-performance tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business business_type-accountants industry-construction\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/private-landlords-2026-need-to-know-changes\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/landlord-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A landlord outside some properties he owns\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/landlord-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/landlord-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/landlord-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-25T11:09:14+01:00\">25 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tNew legal requirements for private landlords in 2026 and beyond\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-30483 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-people-leadership category-strategy-legal-operations category-trends-insights tag-business-performance tag-business-support tag-create-business-plan tag-grow-business tag-make-receive-payments tag-mtd-accountants tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax tag-payments tag-performance-management business_type-small-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/the-hidden-hours-behind-late-payments\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-607477465-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-607477465-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-607477465-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-607477465-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-19T11:24:18+01:00\">19 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe hidden hours behind late payments\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-30243 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-mtd-business tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-income-tax-recognised-ready-software\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/AdobeStock_414034976-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Somebody working on MTD for Income Tax using an app\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/AdobeStock_414034976-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/AdobeStock_414034976-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/AdobeStock_414034976-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-03T13:16:38+01:00\">3 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tIs your software MTD-ready\u2014and are you? Here\u2019s how to find out\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-29928 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-finances tag-business-performance tag-business-support tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/the-renters-rights-act-in-2026-and-beyond-a-practical-guide-for-small-landlords\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/landlord-tenants-renters-right-act-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A landlord discussing the Renters&#039; Rights Act with tenants\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/landlord-tenants-renters-right-act-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/landlord-tenants-renters-right-act-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/landlord-tenants-renters-right-act-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-30T10:40:50+01:00\">30 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe Renters&#8217; Rights Act in 2026 and beyond: A practical guide for small landlords\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MTD for Income Tax has started, and it&#8217;s easy to get things wrong if you believe the incorrect assumptions some people have been making. Here&#8217;s what you need to know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":16449,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,9],"tags":[30,343],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[142,334,727],"coauthors":[369],"class_list":["post-26992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-mtd-business","tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-550537349.jpg","imagine_tags":{"142":"Making Tax Digital for businesses","334":"Making tax digital for income tax","727":"Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26992\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/16449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=26992"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=26992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}