MTD Income Tax 2028 threshold
Understand the April 2028 MTD Income Tax threshold and prepare smaller businesses for digital records without overbuilding the process.
MTD Income Tax is now a live planning issue for smaller sole traders and landlords watching the 2028 threshold. A lower threshold brings more simple businesses into digital reporting, including side trades and modest property portfolios. This guide narrows the job to the £20,000 threshold review, so the business can move from annual clean-up to a repeatable quarterly review.
For wider context, use Making Tax Digital and Software . If the topic affects a filing deadline, software choice or tax treatment, confirm the live position before acting. The workflow below is designed to keep the evidence in one place so the owner, bookkeeper and accountant can all review the same record.
Official point to verify
GOV.UK currently phases MTD for Income Tax by qualifying income: over £50,000 from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 from 6 April 2027 and over £20,000 from 6 April 2028. HMRC also says partnerships will move onto a later timetable. Check the current wording in GOV.UK MTD Income Tax timing guidance before making a binding filing, software or tax decision.
What to control
| Area | Control | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying income | Add self-employment and property income before expenses | The test is based on gross qualifying income |
| Simple records | Keep a light but consistent digital ledger | Small does not mean informal once MTD applies |
| Software cost | Choose software that fits the record volume | The system should not be heavier than the business |
| Future review | Recheck the official threshold before each tax year | HMRC guidance can update operational details |
Review routine
Build the routine around monthly bookkeeping rather than waiting for the quarterly deadline. Reconcile the bank, clear uncategorised transactions, review owner drawings or property transfers, then let the software produce the update totals. The accountant should review exceptions, not rebuild the ledger.
A useful review note should answer three questions: what source evidence was used, what judgement was applied, and who approved the treatment. Keep that note beside the transaction or period report rather than in a separate inbox.
Common mistakes
- Only checking profit after expenses
- Treating a side business as outside scope without adding rental income
- Building a process that is too complicated to keep current
The best prevention is a short, repeated checklist. If a control is too complicated to run every month or quarter, it will probably fail when the deadline is close.
How ReAI helps
ReAI helps by keeping invoices, bank imports, receipts, review notes and accountant access in one place. That makes quarterly MTD work a by-product of ordinary bookkeeping instead of a separate spreadsheet exercise. For hands-on help with setup, see Accounting Assistance for Small Businesses .
Summary
Treat MTD Income Tax 2028 threshold as a recurring accounting control, not a one-off admin task. Put the source data, review owner, exception list and submission evidence in the same system before the deadline arrives. That makes compliance work easier to check and much less dependent on memory.