Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for ITSA) begins in April 2026 for self-employed people and landlords earning over £50,000, with the £30,000 band following in 2027. To be ready, your practice needs four things in place: MTD-compatible software, reliable internet for far more frequent submissions, properly configured digital links between your systems, and dependable backups. Getting the IT right now avoids a scramble later.
MTD moves your affected clients from one annual return to quarterly updates plus a final declaration. That’s a big jump in volume and in how reliant you are on your systems working when deadlines hit. Here is what to check.
1. MTD-compatible software
Your clients’ records need to be kept and submitted through software that works with HMRC’s MTD system, such as Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or compatible bridging tools. Now is the time to confirm every affected client is on a supported product and to plan any moves before the deadline rush.
2. Reliable internet for quarterly submissions
Quarterly updates mean your practice depends on a steady connection far more often than before. A resilient internet setup, ideally with a backup connection that takes over automatically, keeps you submitting on time even if your main line drops.
3. Digital links between systems
MTD requires data to flow digitally between systems rather than being retyped. If you move figures between spreadsheets and software, those links need to be set up correctly so the chain from record to submission is unbroken and compliant.
4. Backups and security
More client data flowing through your systems means more to protect and more to lose if something fails. Encrypted, tested backups and strong security (MFA, endpoint protection, email filtering) keep client data safe and keep you working through a problem.
A real example: systems built to scale
Handling more frequent submissions is far easier on systems designed to cope with growth. We were closely involved in developing the business systems that helped a client grow from 20 users to 100 over five years. The same approach, building IT that scales smoothly, is what makes a change like MTD manageable rather than stressful.
Why accountancy firms choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and MTD readiness review
Want to be confident your practice is ready for MTD? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll check your software, connectivity and backups.