Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Making Tax Digital, straight from your bookings
HMRC now wants self-employed people to keep digital records and send them a short update every quarter. MyPetSitter already keeps those records as you work — your income comes from your bookings, invoices and payments — and sends your quarterly updates and your final declaration to HMRC.
- Over £50,000from 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000from 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000from 6 April 2028
Beta — free for MyPetSitter subscribers while it is in beta.
Who has to use it, and when
It depends on your qualifying income in an earlier tax year. Once it is over the threshold, Making Tax Digital applies to you from the date beside it.
Over £50,000
From 6 April 2026
If your qualifying income was over £50,000 in the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
Over £30,000
From 6 April 2027
If your qualifying income was over £30,000 in the 2025 to 2026 tax year.
Over £20,000
From 6 April 2028
If your qualifying income was over £20,000 in the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
What counts as qualifying income
Qualifying income is your income from self-employment and property added together, before expenses — your turnover, not your profit. Income from a job (PAYE), the State Pension and private pensions does not count.
The year, quarter by quarter
Four updates, each covering the tax year so far, then your tax return. Standard quarters run from 6 April and calendar quarters from 1 April — MyPetSitter follows the ones HMRC holds for you.
Update 1
Due 7 August
6 April to 5 Julyor 1 April to 30 June
Update 2
Due 7 November
6 April to 5 Octoberor 1 April to 30 September
Update 3
Due 7 February
6 April to 5 Januaryor 1 April to 31 December
Update 4
Due 7 May
6 April to 5 Aprilor 1 April to 31 March
Then
Tax return by 31 January
After the tax year ends — your final declaration, from the same books.
What MyPetSitter does for it
The records Making Tax Digital asks for are the records you already keep when you run your business here.
Income from your bookings
Every booking, invoice and payment is already a digital record. Your income is worked out from them — nothing to type twice.
Expenses in one place
Import a bank statement from any UK bank, add your costs and keep each receipt with the expense it belongs to.
Mileage from your bookings, not GPS
Your journeys are worked out from the day’s bookings and each client’s address — phone GPS drifts. Move, add or remove any stop.
Quarterly updates and your final declaration
Preview each quarter, then send it to HMRC through its Making Tax Digital APIs. Standard or calendar quarters — your quarters are the ones HMRC holds for you.
Bring your accountant in
Invite your accountant from the accounting screens. They get their own sign-in, and see your books — nothing else.
Free while it is in beta
The accounting tools are in beta for MyPetSitter subscribers and cost nothing extra while they are. Tell us if anything is not right.
What it does not do yet
VAT returns
VAT returns under Making Tax Digital are coming soon. VAT is recorded in your books today; returns cannot be sent to HMRC from MyPetSitter or MyPetBooks yet.
Income from property
If you also let a property, that income shows in your obligations, but for now it has to be sent with other software that works with Making Tax Digital.
Limited companies
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is for self-employed people and landlords, not companies. A limited company gets its books and its Companies House accounts — Corporation Tax returns (CT600) are not included.
No bookings to manage?
MyPetBooks: the same books, on their own
Free bookkeeping for sole traders and small limited companies — built first for pet care. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is £3 a month; cancel any time.
- Import bank statements from any UK bank — free
- Automatic bank feeds with Plus — £5 a month
- Gaia reads your receipts — your first 50p of credit is free
- Income Tax to HMRC under Making Tax Digital — £3 a month
Questions people ask
Sole traders and landlords whose qualifying income is over a threshold. If yours was over £50,000 in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, you should already be using it — it started on 6 April 2026. Over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026: from 6 April 2027. Over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027: from 6 April 2028.
Qualifying income is your income from self-employment and property added together, before expenses — your turnover, not your profit. Income from a job (PAYE), the State Pension and private pensions does not count. It is worked out from the tax return for the earlier year, as GOV.UK explains.
Keep digital records as you go, send HMRC an update four times a year — due 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May, each covering the tax year so far — and then submit your tax return by 31 January after the tax year ends.
Your income is already in it: every booking, invoice and payment is a digital record. Add your expenses — import a bank statement from any UK bank and keep each receipt with its expense — and your mileage is worked out from your bookings. Then preview each quarter, send it to HMRC, and make your final declaration the same way.
For MyPetSitter subscribers the accounting tools, Making Tax Digital included, are in beta and free while they are in beta. MyPetBooks is coming soon: free bookkeeping for anyone who does not need bookings, with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax at £3 a month.
No. Your journeys are worked out from your bookings — the day’s visits in order, from each client’s address — because phone GPS drifts. You can move, add or remove any stop, and the simplified mileage claim is worked out for you.
Yes. Invite your accountant from the accounting screens and they get their own sign-in, with access to your books and nothing else in your business.
VAT returns under Making Tax Digital are coming soon. VAT is recorded in your books today; returns cannot be sent to HMRC from MyPetSitter or MyPetBooks yet.
If you also let a property, that income shows in your obligations, but for now it has to be sent with other software that works with Making Tax Digital.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is for self-employed people and landlords, not companies. A limited company gets its books and its Companies House accounts — Corporation Tax returns (CT600) are not included.
Try it on your own bookings
No card needed to start. Questions about Making Tax Digital in MyPetSitter? Email hello@mypetsitter.co.uk.