How to sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax with HMRC

Signing up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a separate step from choosing your software. First check when you need to use it, choose compatible software, then use HMRC's official sign-up service.

This guide explains the steps for UK sole traders and landlords in plain English. It is general information, not individual tax advice. If your situation is unusual, check the latest HMRC guidance or speak to a qualified tax adviser.

Before you sign up

Do these checks before opening HMRC's sign-up service.

1. Check when you need to use MTD for Income Tax

You need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from 6 April 2026 if your total annual qualifying income from self-employment and property is over £50,000. Qualifying income means your gross income before expenses, based on the tax return you submitted in the previous tax year.

If you are not sure whether your income passed the threshold, use HMRC's official checker. It will help you confirm whether you need to join and when your start date applies.

Check if and when you need to use MTD for Income Tax.

You normally need to be registered for Self Assessment and have submitted a tax return within the last two years before you can sign up. HMRC's service will tell you if another step is needed.

2. Choose compatible software

HMRC tells you to choose compatible software before signing up. The software needs to support the type of income you will report and the MTD tasks you need to complete.

This does not happen automatically with every invoice created in any invoicing app. For Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, your digital records need to be kept in compatible software, and the software needs to be designed to use the invoice information as an income record. EasyInvoice is built to do exactly that, so a familiar part of running your business also helps you meet the new record-keeping requirement.

Not every payment needs an invoice. You can add other income directly in EasyInvoice, including rent from a UK property, then record expenses as they happen. Together, those everyday records form the basis of your quarterly updates.

EasyInvoice does not currently support foreign landlords or submissions through HMRC's agent system.

See how EasyInvoice supports MTD for Income Tax.

3. Have your login and business details ready

Use the same Government Gateway user ID and password that you use for Self Assessment.

HMRC says you may also need:

• • your business start date, or the date you started receiving property income, if this was within the last two tax years;
• • the tax year when you will start using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax;
• • for a sole trade, your business name, address and type of trade;
• • details of each self-employment or property income source shown in the service, so you can check that none are missing.

HMRC may also ask you to prove your identity during the online journey.

How to sign up for MTD for Income Tax

Step 1: open HMRC's official sign-up service

Go to Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax on GOV.UK and select Sign up now.

Avoid links in unexpected emails or messages. Starting from GOV.UK helps you know that you are using the official service.

Step 2: sign in with your Self Assessment account

Enter the Government Gateway user ID and password connected to your Self Assessment account. Do not create a different account unless HMRC tells you to.

Step 3: follow HMRC's questions

HMRC will guide you through the information it needs for your circumstances. Read each answer before you submit it, especially if you have both self-employment and property income.

Step 4: complete any identity check

HMRC may ask you to prove your identity. Follow the instructions shown in the service. The exact check can vary, so do not rely on a third-party list of documents as a guarantee.

Step 5: follow your software's connection steps

After completing the HMRC sign-up journey, return to your chosen software and follow its instructions for connecting to HMRC. Signing up with HMRC and authorising software are related steps, but completing one does not mean every software connection has been finished automatically.

EasyInvoice is designed so you can try the app before connecting it to HMRC. During your free trial, create invoices, add income and expenses, and see whether the workflow feels right for your business. Connect to HMRC when you are comfortable that EasyInvoice meets your needs. You do not need to connect your HMRC account before you have had the chance to test the app for yourself.

Can an accountant sign you up?

HMRC provides a separate sign-up route for authorised agents. Your accountant or tax agent may be able to sign you up if they have the required authorisation and use HMRC's agent services.

That does not mean every MTD app supports agent submissions. EasyInvoice does not currently support accountants sending quarterly updates on a client's behalf. You can keep your own digital records and send your quarterly updates in EasyInvoice, while still using an accountant for other tax work if you choose.

Can you sign up voluntarily?

HMRC allows some people to sign up voluntarily before they are required to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Eligibility and timing can depend on your circumstances, so check the current HMRC sign-up guidance before joining early.

Voluntary sign-up means taking on the MTD process, including keeping digital records and sending quarterly updates. It is worth choosing your software and understanding the routine before you opt in.

How EasyInvoice fits into the process

EasyInvoice is for UK sole traders, freelancers and landlords who want simple invoicing and MTD records without a full accounting suite.

With EasyInvoice Premium, you can:

• • create and send invoices;
• • turn invoices you create and send in EasyInvoice into digital income records, without entering the same sale twice;
• • add income that does not come with an invoice, such as rent from a UK property or other supported business income, without creating an invoice just to record it;
• • record expenses;
• • keep supported income sources organised;
• • send quarterly updates to HMRC;
• • see HMRC's received status for an update;
• • view a tax estimate for budgeting after sending an update.

The tax estimate is not your final tax bill. EasyInvoice also does not support foreign landlords or HMRC's agent submission system.

Frequently asked questions

Is signing up for MTD the same as registering for Self Assessment?

No. Signing up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a separate process. You normally need an existing Self Assessment record and a recent tax return before using the MTD sign-up service.

Should I choose software before signing up with HMRC?

Yes. HMRC's current guidance says to choose compatible software before signing up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

Does HMRC move me to MTD automatically?

No. The sign-up process is not automatic. Check when you need to join and complete HMRC's official online sign-up journey.

Can my accountant submit quarterly updates through EasyInvoice?

No. EasyInvoice does not currently support submissions through HMRC's agent system. You send your own quarterly updates in EasyInvoice, although you can still use an accountant for other tax work.

Can I use EasyInvoice for UK property income?

Yes. EasyInvoice supports digital records and quarterly updates for UK property income, including users who also have sole-trader income. It does not currently support foreign landlords.