Start MTD Today: Add Your Digital Records Before Connecting to HMRC

Getting ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) can feel like a complicated process. Many people expect that the first step is connecting their HMRC account, setting up Government Gateway access, and completing identity checks.

But that is not always necessary on day one. If you are a sole trader or landlord, you can start preparing for MTD in a much simpler way –  by adding your digital records first, and connecting to HMRC later when you are ready.

Do You Need to Connect to HMRC Before Using MTD Software?

A common assumption is that you need to connect your software to HMRC before you can do anything. In practice, many tools require you to:

• log in through Government Gateway

• verify your identity

• connect your HMRC account

• complete setup steps

before you can even explore how the app works. 

However, under HMRC rules, the key requirement is that you keep digital records of your self-employment and property income and expenses using software. This means you can begin by focusing on what matters most: creating and maintaining your digital records.

Start Keeping Digital Records First

For MTD for ITSA, digital records sit at the centre of the process. HMRC requires taxpayers to:

• keep digital records of income and expenses

• use software to store and maintain those records

• use those records to prepare quarterly updates

But importantly, nothing in the process requires you to connect your HMRC account before you begin recording your data. Starting early gives you time to:

• organise your income records

• track invoices and payments

• build consistent habits before deadlines apply

Simple Registration: Start in Seconds

With EasyInvoice, you can start using an HMRC-recognized app without going through a long setup process. Registration takes just three steps:

1. Enter your email address

2. Create a password

3. Enter your business name

That’s it. You can access the app immediately and begin adding:

• digital records

• sales invoices (which are also digital records)

• basic business information

This makes it easier to understand how the software works before connecting it to HMRC.

Why Starting Early Makes MTD Easier

One of the biggest changes under MTD for ITSA is the shift from a single annual return to regular record-keeping and quarterly updates. Because of this, getting used to digital record-keeping early can make a big difference. Starting before you connect to HMRC allows you to:

• test how your records are organised

• see how invoices and payments are tracked

• understand your data before reporting deadlines

This approach can feel more manageable than trying to set everything up at once.

Connect to HMRC When You’re Ready

With EasyInvoice, connecting your account to HMRC is something you can do later, not something you must do immediately. When you are ready to:

• send quarterly updates

• submit your information to HMRC

you can connect your account at that point.

Until then, you can focus on building accurate digital records inside an HMRC-recognized app.

A Simpler Way to Get Started with MTD

For many sole traders and landlords, the hardest part of MTD is getting started. Instead of beginning with account connections and setup steps, it can be easier to start with what matters most: your records.

EasyInvoice makes that possible by letting you:

• register in minutes

• start adding digital records immediately

• connect to HMRC later when you are ready

If you’re looking for an HMRC-recognized app that lets you start quickly and build your records step by step, download EasyInvoice and get started – your 3 months are free.