Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) is introduced progressively from 6 April 2026. It will require unincorporated traders and landlords whose income is over the trigger threshold to keep digital records and make quarterly returns and a final declaration to HMRC using MTD-compatible software.

The start dates for traders and landlords with trading and/or property income in excess of £30,000 have been known for some time (albeit they are now later than originally announced). At the time of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government stated that MTD for ITSA would be extended to apply to traders and landlord with trading and/or property income of £20,000 or more before the end of the current Parliament. At the time of the 2025 Spring Statement, it was announced that it will apply to them from 6 April 2028.

Start dates

The first start date is 6 April 2026. This is for individuals with income from an unincorporated trading and/or property business of at least £50,000.

The second start date is 6 April 2027. This is for individuals not already within MTD for ITSA with income from an unincorporated trading and/or property business of at least £30,000.

The final start date is 6 April 2028. This is for individuals not already within MTD for ITSA with income from an unincorporated trading and/or property business of at least £20,000.

As of yet, no date has been announced from which individuals with combined trading and property income of less than £20,000 will be brought within MTD for ITSA.

The income is the combined trading and property income from all sources before the deduction of expenses. An individual will be within MTD for ITSA if their total trading and property income exceeds the trigger threshold even if the income from each individual business is below it. The relevant income for assessing whether an individual is within the scope of MTD for ITSA from 6 April 2026 is that for 2024/25.

Once within MTD for ITSA, an individual must remain within it unless their income is below the prevailing threshold for three consecutive tax years.

Case studies

Abigail is a sole trader with trading income of £45,000 in 2024/25. She also receives rental income from a buy-to-let of £12,000. Although individually neither her trading nor her property income is more than £50,000, as her combined trading and property income at £57,000 is more than the threshold, she will be within MTD for ITSA from April 2026.

Billy has trading income of £35,000. As long as he remains at this level, he will be within MTD for ITSA from April 2027.

Caitlin runs two small sole trader businesses. Her income from one is £15,000 a year and her income from the other is £7,000 a year. If her income remains at this level, she will be within MTD for ITSA from 6 April 2028.

It is important that traders and landlords are aware of their start date and plan ahead so that they are ready to comply from that date.