Location: Ipswich, UK

Tag: Sole trader

Bookkeeping, Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Could VT be the right software for you?

I love VT. I’ve used it right from when I first became self-employed. Other bookkeeping software has come on to the market, which on the face of it might seem like an improvement. Maybe it’s cloud-based, or has the facility to connect to my bank and download transactions directly into the software. Yet still I…
Read more

I’ve missed the Making Tax Digital deadline. What do I do?

From September 2026, HMRC are going to start auto-enrolling anyone who they believe should be in the new Making Tax Digital tax system who hasn’t signed up voluntarily. The disadvantage of HMRC signing you up is that you lose the opportunity to check the business and rental property details that HMRC hold about you. There…
Read more

Does your bookkeeping system make you feel like you’re stuck in the mud?

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗱? Have you been ploughing on with the same old package or spreadsheet for years? Or have you recently subscribed to a new software package that just doesn’t seem to be working for you? Using software that doesn’t suit you or…
Read more

Making Tax Digital quarterly updates with Pandle

Today I sent in my first successful quarterly update using Pandle. I had to sign up for Making Tax Digital with HMRC first. To set Pandle up for MTD for Income Tax, first you need to go to Company Settings / Integrations and enter your National Insurance Number. Whilst in that screen, click on the…
Read more

Making Tax Digital quarterly updates with VT Transaction+

I’ve just sent in my first successful quarterly update with VT Transaction+ . I had to sign up for Making Tax Digital with HMRC first. The first time you use VT Transaction+ for MTD, there is some basic setup to do. All MTD settings can be accessed by clicking the “MTD” option on the top…
Read more

Image by Laurin Steffens on Unsplash

How to choose bookkeeping software – case study 1

Earlier this month I met with a lady who has kindly agreed to be a bookkeeping case study for me. We discussed the nature of her business, how she currently keeps her receipts and records, and any other software she uses in running her business. We started by looking at what she’s doing currently: keeping…
Read more

How does the transition from Self Assessment to Making Tax Digital work?

Tax is changing! But not for everyone. Here’s a quick reminder of what’s changing this year and for whom. 2026-27 (tax year starting 6th April 2026) Making Tax Digital (MTD) only starts on 6th April 2026 if the total self-employed and rental income (before expenses) shown on your 2024-25 tax return was over £50,000. If…
Read more

What’s the best software to use for MTD?

There’s no easy way to answer that. The landscape is constantly changing and new products are coming to market all the time. But here are a few things to consider: 1. Are you looking for free or paid-for software? Although HMRC aren’t providing any free software, they have been encouraging software developers to provide MTD…
Read more

What’s all the fuss about Making Tax Digital?

It all depends on where you’re starting from, and whether you use more than one software package to handle your business record-keeping. If your business is straightforward, Making Tax Digital should be too. The main changes will be to make sure the way you keep your bookkeeping records in a way that complies with Making…
Read more

How to use spreadsheets for Making Tax Digital

Despite the advantages of using software, what if you’re happy using spreadsheets for your bookkeeping and don’t want to change? In this blog, I explore a free bridging software solution that enables you to keep using spreadsheets and still comply with Making Tax Digital. Making Tax Digital and spreadsheets If your combined income from self-employment…
Read more