Making Tax Digital accountants in Northern Ireland
Making Tax Digital is the single biggest change to UK tax in a generation. From April 2026, sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 must keep digital records and file quarterly with HMRC. We get you set up, compliant, and ahead of the deadline.
Everything you need, nothing you do not
Making Tax Digital is the single biggest change to UK tax in a generation. From April 2026, sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 must keep digital records and file quarterly with HMRC. We get you set up, compliant, and ahead of the deadline. We handle the detail so you can focus on running your business. Every engagement is quoted up front based on your records and the work involved, with no hidden extras.
- MTD-compatible software set up and run by us on Sage, inside your fee
- Digital record-keeping configured to your business
- Four quarterly updates filed each tax year
- Year-end final declaration prepared and submitted
- Training and ongoing support for you and your team
- Compatible bridging software where you already use spreadsheets
Our process
Eligibility check
We confirm whether MTD for Income Tax applies to you, when, and what your obligations look like under the £50k or £30k threshold.
Software and setup
We set you up on Sage, move your records across, and organise your bank feed. The software sits inside your fee, so there is nothing to buy or configure yourself.
Quarterly updates
We file four quarterly updates with HMRC each tax year. You see your live position. No year-end surprises.
Final declaration
At the end of the tax year, we prepare and file your final declaration in place of the traditional self-assessment return.
No surprises, ever
Every engagement is different, so every quote is. After a brief review of your records and what you need, we agree a fixed fee up front. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. If the scope changes, we tell you before any work is done.
Get a quote- All preparation and filing
- Unlimited phone and email support
- HMRC correspondence on your behalf
- Proactive advice throughout the year
Frequently asked about making tax digital
When does Making Tax Digital for Income Tax start?
From 6 April 2026 if your gross income from self-employment and property exceeds £50,000. From 6 April 2027 the threshold drops to £30,000. From 6 April 2028 it drops again to £20,000. The exact date you must comply depends on the income shown on your most recent self-assessment return.
Who is affected by MTD for Income Tax?
Sole traders, landlords, and individuals with self-employment or property income above the threshold. Partnerships, limited companies, and trusts are not yet in scope. If you only have employment income you are not affected.
What changes for me practically?
Three things. You must keep digital records (no more shoebox of receipts). You must use MTD-compatible software to file. You must submit four quarterly updates plus a final declaration each tax year, instead of one annual self-assessment return.
Which software should I use for MTD?
You do not need to choose. Arro Group runs on Sage, and we set it up, run it and file your quarterly updates through it as part of your fee. The only step on your side is connecting your bank feed, and we organise that with you.
Can I keep using spreadsheets?
Yes, but they must connect to HMRC through approved bridging software. Records must be kept digitally and quarterly submissions made through compatible software. We can configure a spreadsheet-plus-bridging setup if that suits how you already work.
What happens if I do not comply on time?
HMRC has confirmed a points-based late submission penalty regime alongside MTD. Late or missing quarterly updates accrue points; once you reach the threshold, financial penalties follow. Getting set up before your first deadline is the cheapest option by a long way.
How much will MTD cost on top of my current accountancy fee?
It depends on the volume of records, the software chosen, and how organised your existing bookkeeping is. We quote a fixed annual fee after a brief review. Most clients moving to MTD see a higher fee than their old self-assessment-only arrangement, because the work is genuinely more frequent.
Are landlords affected by MTD?
Yes. Property income counts toward the threshold. If your combined property and self-employment income exceeds £50,000 from April 2026 (or £30,000 from April 2027), MTD applies. Joint property income is split per owner for the threshold test.
making tax digital guides from our team
Tax updates Self Assessment 2025-26: what to sort out now before the 31 January 2027 deadline
Self Assessment 2025-26 guide for Belfast and NI: the 31 January 2027 deadline, who needs to file, penalties, payments on account and a records checklist.
Tax planning Rental property in Northern Ireland: sole trade or limited company?
Should your rental property be held personally or in a limited company? A Belfast accountant works the numbers, the cost of switching and the CGT on a sale.
Tax updates Your MTD quarterly update: a checklist for 7 November
Missed or scrambled through the 7 August MTD update? Here is how to recover, and the checklist that gets the 7 November quarterly update filed calmly.
Tax updates When does Making Tax Digital actually start for you?
When does Making Tax Digital start for you? Four questions to find your personal start date, from Belfast accountants.
Running your business How much does an accountant cost in Northern Ireland?
How much does an accountant cost in NI? What sole traders, landlords and companies are really paying for, and what moves the price, from a Belfast accountant.
Tax updates MTD for limited companies: not yet (and what to do now)
MTD for limited companies: not in scope for ITSA, but VAT MTD already applies. Belfast accountants on what NI directors should focus on instead.
Talk to us about making tax digital
15-minute call, no commitment. We will answer your questions and give you a fixed-fee quote.