Why HMRC’s exemption list shouldn’t stop you preparing for MTD for Income Tax
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is less than six months away and now is the ideal time for self-employed individuals, sole traders and landlords to start preparing for the changes to come.
Ahead of MTD for Income Tax coming into effect, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published its list of exemptions.
However, that shouldn’t stop your preparations because while there are exemptions in place, they will only apply to a very specific set of individuals.
Your focus should be on organising your accounts, understanding your new obligations where you will need to keep digital records and submit quarterly reports to HMRC and implementing measures to be ready for 6 April 2026.
What are the exemptions in place?
The only way you can be exempt from MTD is if you are digitally excluded. This means it is not feasible for you to use compatible software to keep digital records and submit them to HMRC.
Under HMRC’s regulations, you will be classed as digitally excluded if your age, health condition or disability stops you from using a computer, tablet or smartphone to keep digital records.
There are also circumstances where you can be digitally excluded if you are a practising member of a religious society whose beliefs are incompatible with using digital communications or keeping digital records.
The final exemption is if you cannot get internet access at your home or business because of your location and you cannot find a suitable location that does have functioning internet.
HMRC’s exemptions for MTD are very strict and they will not accept any reasons other than what is laid out in its criteria.
They are embracing the evolving digital age and are keen for taxpayers to do the same.
What if the exemption criteria applies to me or somebody I know?
If you do meet any of the points in HMRC’s exemption criteria, you can apply to HMRC to be digitally exempt and if they approve your claim, you can continue to submit paper filings.
HMRC aims to review any exemption claims within 28 days, but your reasoning must be clear and fit the criteria in place.
If these exemptions apply to somebody you may know, you should be encouraging them to double check with HMRC and clarify their situation, especially with MTD less than six months away.
The exemptions shouldn’t stop your MTD preparations
HMRC’s exemptions will only apply to a very small number of self-employed individuals, sole traders and landlords, so the exemptions shouldn’t stop your preparations.
With MTD for Income Tax coming into effect from April, you should be looking at the MTD regulations, clarifying when it will apply to you and implementing digital software into your processes so you are ready.
From April, MTD will apply to anyone whose annual turnover exceeds the £50,000 threshold.
This threshold then reduces year by year to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028, which is why it is so important to prepare for when the MTD regulations will apply to you.
Your preparations should also include a conversation with an experienced set of accountants like us. We can help you plan, prepare and answer all the questions you have about MTD.
Our team will support you throughout your preparations, ensuring you are comfortable with the MTD regulations and can meet your requirements with HMRC.
For support with your MTD preparations, contact us today.
