Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, without changing how you work.
Clients Assistant links your existing spreadsheet to HMRC for quarterly updates and your final declaration — no bank feeds, no new accounting software to learn.
Recognised by HMRC · Ref B2D5MT
"Easy to follow instructions from start to finish."
"Clear steps and genuinely easy to navigate. Awesome site."
"Simple interface, everything I needed was right where I expected it."
"Straightforward even for the less common forms."
"Ten minutes start to finish once I had my figures ready."
Six steps, most of them one-off
Sign up
Create your Clients Assistant account in a couple of minutes.
Connect your UTR and National Insurance number
A one-off step that links your account to your HMRC record.
Add income and expenses
Use our bridging templates to digitally link your existing records.
Upload your linked spreadsheet
Drag and drop the completed file — no setup beyond that.
Submit quarterly updates
Review the figures and send each update to HMRC in a few clicks.
Submit your final declaration
Complete your end-of-year declaration by 31 January the following year.
What it costs
Half price for your first year, on every plan, while the offer lasts.
- Self-employment, UK & foreign property
- Unlimited submissions & amendments
- Live tax liability estimates
- Filing deadline reminders
- Everything in Individual
- Up to 10 income tax registrations
- Shared access with your accountant
- HMRC submission receipts
- Everything in Family & Groups
- 11+ income tax registrations
- Exported filing confirmations
- Friendly UK-based support
Why file MTD Income Tax with Clients Assistant
Simple bridging templates
Download a template, link your records, and upload it in minutes.
Keep your workflow
Carry on using spreadsheets — no need to move to full accounting software.
No bank feeds
You stay in control of your data — no bank accounts to connect.
HMRC-recognised
Submit updates directly to HMRC with confidence they'll be accepted.
Try it free
Your first return is free on any tier — no card needed to start.
Live tax insights
See your estimated tax position as you go — no year-end surprises.
Never miss a deadline
Reminders for every key date, and alerts if something looks missing.
Secure sharing
Safely give access to an accountant, business partner, or spouse.
See it before you sign up
Bridging templates & example records
Self-Employment template
Bridging template for self-employment MTD submissions.
ClientsAssistant_ITSA_SelfEmployed_FULL_Template.xlsxUK Property template
Bridging template for UK property MTD submissions.
ClientsAssistant_ITSA_UKProperty_FULL_Template.xlsxForeign Property template
Bridging template for foreign property MTD submissions.
ClientsAssistant_ITSA_ForeignProperty_FULL_Template.xlsxMultiple Clients onboarding template
Template for onboarding multiple clients for MTD submissions by agents.
ClientsAssistant_MultipleClients_Template.xlsxExample records — self-employment Quarter 1
Explore what compliant digital records should look like.
ClientsAssistant_Sample_ITSA_SelfEmployed_FULL_Template_Q1.xlsxExample records — self-employment Quarter 2
Explore what compliant digital records should look like.
ClientsAssistant_Sample_ITSA_SelfEmployed_FULL_Template_Q2.xlsxExample records — property Quarter 1
Explore what compliant digital records should look like.
ClientsAssistant_Sample_ITSA_UKProperty_FULL_Template_Q1.xlsxExample records — property Quarter 2
Explore what compliant digital records should look like.
ClientsAssistant_Sample_ITSA_UKProperty_FULL_Template_Q2.xlsxExample records — Foreign Property Quarter 1
Explore what compliant digital records should look like.
ClientsAssistant_Sample_ITSA_ForeignProperty_FULL_Template_Q1.xlsxMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax, in plain terms
MTD for Income Tax is a major change to how self-employed people and landlords report to HMRC, gradually replacing the annual Self Assessment return. Instead of one yearly form, you'll keep digital records and send regular updates throughout the year.
Payment deadlines don't change — your final declaration and any balance owed are still due by 31 January.
Under MTD IT, you'll:
- Use MTD-compatible software, like Clients Assistant, to report income
- Keep digital records of income and expenses
- Digitally link those records to your submissions
- Send four quarterly updates per business
- See real-time estimates of your tax position
- File one final declaration covering all income, as before
Rolled out by income, not by profession
If you earn over the threshold from self-employment and/or property, MTD IT applies to you — regardless of what that work is.
Self-employment
- Sole traders, freelancers & contractors
- Taxi, rideshare and delivery drivers
- Online sellers and content creators
- Consultants and personal service providers
- Tradespeople and driving instructors
Property income
- Landlords, UK or overseas
- Short-term and holiday lets
- Rent-a-room scheme
- Joint property owners
- Student accommodation landlords
Also includes
- Side income alongside employment
- Combined employment and self-employment income
- Multiple income sources together
When it becomes mandatory
Mandatory for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000.
Mandatory for qualifying income over £30,000.
Mandatory for qualifying income over £20,000.
Possible extension below the £20,000 threshold.
What's actually different from Self Assessment
Questions people ask
The total gross income — turnover, before expenses — from your self-employment and property businesses combined.
No. You'll submit quarterly updates and an end-of-period statement, but balancing payments and payments on account keep the same 31 January and 31 July deadlines.
HMRC uses a points-based penalty system — one point per late submission, with a fine once you cross the threshold. Late payments can attract separate penalties and interest.
No. You can keep using spreadsheets as long as bridging software digitally links your records to HMRC — that's exactly what Clients Assistant does.
Data has to flow from your spreadsheet into the bridging tool without manual copy-and-paste. A formula referencing between two spreadsheets satisfies that requirement.
Yes — you'll need to sign up for MTD IT through your HMRC online account and add your business or property details before they're visible in any software.
Yes — for example if it's not practical to use digital tools due to age, disability, or remote location, or on religious grounds. You'd apply to HMRC directly for confirmation.
You can still use Clients Assistant — just keep separate records per business, submit a quarterly update and EOPS for each, and file one final declaration covering everything.
Not ready for MTD IT yet?
MTD VAT
Need to file VAT returns too? Our MTD-compatible VAT product works the same way.
Clients Assistant MTD VAT →