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Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
22 April 2024
Updated:
24 April 2026 - See all updates

Get your software ready

How to authorise software and check your accounting period before you use your chosen software.

Before you continue, check you have:听

After signing up, you or your client听need听to听use your chosen software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax to create digital records and send quarterly updates.听听

Before you start creating digital records, you must:听

  • authorise your software听

  • check your accounting period in your software听听

Authorise your software听

You听need to authorise your compatible software, so it is connected to HMRC.听

How to authorise your software as a sole trader or landlord听听

  1. Select the听option听to connect with HMRC in your compatible software.听听听

  2. Enter the user ID and password you used when you signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.听听

  3. Pass the identity check by entering personal information and details from your identity documents (if you need to).听听

  4. Give permission for your software to connect with HMRC.听听

You鈥檒l听need to repeat these steps every 18 months, but you听will听not need to pass the identity check again. Your software should remind you when听it鈥檚听time to reconnect.听听

How to authorise your software as an agent听听

  1. Select the听option听to connect to HMRC in the compatible software.听听听

  2. Enter your firm鈥檚 agent services account user ID and password.

  3. Pass the identity check by entering personal information and details from identity documents.听听

  4. Give permission for your firm鈥檚 software to connect with HMRC.听听

Personal information from you or an employee at the firm is听required听for fraud听prevention. You can find out how we store and process personal information in the听听and听HMRC Privacy Notice.听听

You鈥檒l听need to repeat these steps every 18 months. Your software should remind you when听it鈥檚听time to reconnect.听

Check your accounting period听

Your software听will听automatically default to an accounting period that aligns with the tax year (6 April to 5 April).听

If your accounting period runs from 1 April to 31 March, you need to select calendar periods in your software before you send your first quarterly update.听This听will听also make your record keeping simpler if your accounting period aligns with the end of another month.听

You cannot change your accounting period after you have sent a quarterly update, so听it鈥檚听important you check this when you set up your software.听听

What to do next听听

Find out how to access your new tax service and what you can do in your account for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.