You do not have to pay to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. HMRC's own guidance says free products are available for people with simple tax affairs, usually with limits. When we looked at HMRC's software finder on 27 September 2026, it listed 146 products for sole traders and landlords, 36 of them with a free version.
The catch is in the conditions. Some are free only with a particular bank account, some only for one property, some only for the quarterly updates and not the tax return, and some only for a year. This guide sets out what each free option actually covers, from the vendors' own pages.
What free software has to do
To meet the rules, your software (or a combination of products that work together) must:
- create and store digital records of your self-employment and property income and expenses;
- send quarterly updates to HMRC for each business: each trade, your UK property business and any foreign property business;
- let you add your other income and submit the tax return by 31 January.
A free product that only sends quarterly updates is still useful, but you will need something else for the tax return.
The free options compared
Facts from each vendor's own pages and HMRC's software finder, as at 27 September 2026. Conditions change, so check before you commit.
| Product | Who it is free for | Covers | Things to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeAgent | Holders of a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business current account, or a Mettle account used at least monthly | Sole trader and UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | Otherwise £10 a month (landlord) or £19 (sole trader), plus VAT |
| Sage Sole Trader & Landlord Free | Anyone | Sole trader and UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | One bank account and a cap on AI-categorised transactions |
| Clear Books Free | Anyone | Sole trader, UK and overseas property; quarterly updates and tax return | No bank feed on the free plan |
| RentalBux Free | One property unit or one business | Sole trader, UK and foreign property; quarterly updates and tax return | Free until March 2028; bank statements imported by hand |
| ANNA | Anyone, for 2026/27 | Sole traders and landlords | The free offer covers the 2026/27 filings; HMRC's finder lists ANNA as a paid product |
| Monzo | Monzo Business customers | Sole trader and UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | Needs a Monzo Business account |
| Starling | Starling sole trader account holders | Sole trader and UK property; quarterly updates | Starling says year-end filing is coming soon |
| GetGround Basic | Landlords | UK property; quarterly updates | The tax return is in the paid Core plan |
| Landlord Studio MTD Go | Landlords with 1 to 3 units | UK property; quarterly updates | Charges £5 per MTD submission |
| QuickFile | Up to 1,000 ledger entries | Bookkeeping | MTD for Income Tax needs the Power User subscription, £60 a year plus VAT |
| VoxaMTD | Anyone | Sole trader and UK property; quarterly updates (final declaration coming before April 2027) | No foreign property; standard update periods only |
How to choose
Does it cover every income source?
A landlord who is also self-employed needs a product that covers both, or two products. Foreign property narrows the field further. HMRC's software finder lets you filter by income source.
Does it send the tax return?
Several free products only send quarterly updates. That still leaves the year-end tax return, which also has to include any income HMRC does not add for you, such as savings interest or dividends.
What keeps it free?
A bank account you must keep, a property or business limit, a per-submission charge, or an offer that ends after a set date. None of these is a problem if it fits you, but each is worth knowing before you spend a year's records in the product. If one stops fitting, HMRC lets you change MTD software at any time.
Is it in HMRC's software finder?
HMRC says all software listed in its finder has been through its recognition process, and that it does not recommend any product. Software that is not listed can still connect to HMRC, but if being listed matters to you, filter on it.
If you would rather pay
The cheapest paid entry points we found were Xero Simple and Sage Sole Trader at £7 a month plus VAT, FreeAgent's landlord plan at £10 and QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus at £10. Our comparison of VoxaMTD, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Xero goes into more detail, and do you need to pay for MTD software? covers when paying is worth it.
Where VoxaMTD fits
VoxaMTD's free plan sends quarterly updates for self-employment and UK property income directly to HMRC's live Making Tax Digital service. The year-end final declaration is coming before April 2027, in time for the 2026 to 2027 tax year (first due 31 January 2028). It includes a bank feed through open banking (one bank connection), CSV and Excel uploads, AI categorisation and a Section 24 calculator, with no bank you have to hold and no cap on properties or transactions. It does not yet cover foreign property, calendar update periods, or other income such as savings interest.
A voice AI tax accountant is available on its paid plans.
Start free, no card needed · Compare VoxaMTD with other software
Competitor details are taken from each provider's own website and HMRC's software finder on 27 September 2026, and prices exclude VAT unless stated. Offers change often, so check the provider's site before you decide. This is general information, not financial advice.