--- title: "Making Tax Digital guides for every trade | MTD Match" description: "Plain-English Making Tax Digital guides for barbers, cleaners, builders, drivers, landlords and 30+ other trades." url: https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/ last_updated: 2026-10-26 language: en-GB publisher: MTD Match (independent; not affiliated with HMRC) --- # Making Tax Digital, explained for your work Pick your trade for a plain-English guide: what counts as income, what you can claim, and what MTD means for your week – in your words and in your accountant’s. ## Start here - [From till to tax bill: your working year in accountant language](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/accounting-terms-plain-english.html): Turnover, drawings, allowable expenses, quarterly update, final declaration – what each term means, in the order it happens to you. - [What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax? A plain-English guide](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/what-is-making-tax-digital.html): Making Tax Digital in five minutes: who it applies to, what changes, what stays the same, and the dates for 2026, 2027 and 2028. - [Making Tax Digital from April 2027: are you in at £30,000?](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-30000-threshold-april-2027.html): From 6 April 2027, sole traders and landlords with over £30,000 of qualifying income must use MTD. How to check, and what to do before April. - [Qualifying income: why MTD counts your takings, not your profit](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/turnover-vs-profit.html): Many sole traders think MTD won’t apply because their profit is low. The threshold is based on gross takings and rent. Here’s how to work it out. - [Making Tax Digital deadlines for 2026/27 (and how to never miss one)](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-deadlines-2026-27.html): Every MTD quarterly update deadline for the 2026/27 tax year, the final declaration date, and when tax is actually paid. - [Making Tax Digital penalties: points, fines and late payment](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-penalties.html): How the points-based late submission penalties and late payment penalties work under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. - [MTD: do it yourself with software, or use an accountant?](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-software-or-accountant.html): Doing Making Tax Digital yourself vs using an accountant: time, cost, risk and what to ask before you choose. - [Employed with a side business or rental? How MTD adds it up](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/side-income-and-mtd.html): Have a job plus self-employed or rental income? Your wages don’t count for MTD, but side takings and rent are added together. Examples inside. - [What does a UK accountant do? Core services and specialist extras](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/what-uk-accountants-do.html): The services almost every UK accounting firm offers, the specialist work only some do, and how to tell which kind of firm you need. ## Personal & beauty - [Barbers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-barbers.html) - [Beauticians](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-beauticians.html) - [Hairdressers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-hairdressers.html) - [Massage therapists](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-massage-therapists.html) - [Personal trainers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-personal-trainers.html) - [Tattoo artists](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-tattoo-artists.html) ## Home & outdoor - [Dog walkers and pet sitters](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-dog-walkers.html) - [Domestic cleaners](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-domestic-cleaners.html) - [Gardeners and landscapers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-gardeners.html) - [Handymen](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-handymen.html) - [Window cleaners](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-window-cleaners.html) ## Care & education - [Childminders](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-childminders.html) - [Private tutors](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-private-tutors.html) - [Self-employed carers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-self-employed-carers.html) ## Construction & trades - [Builders](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-builders.html) - [Carpenters and joiners](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-carpenters.html) - [Electricians](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-electricians.html) - [Painters and decorators](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-painters-and-decorators.html) - [Plumbers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-plumbers.html) ## Driving & transport - [Couriers and delivery drivers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-delivery-drivers.html) - [Driving instructors](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-driving-instructors.html) - [Man with a van and removals](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-man-with-a-van.html) - [Taxi and private hire drivers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-taxi-drivers.html) ## Creative & digital - [Content creators](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-content-creators.html) - [Freelance developers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-freelance-developers.html) - [Graphic designers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-graphic-designers.html) - [Musicians](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-musicians.html) - [Photographers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-photographers.html) ## Selling - [Market traders](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-market-traders.html) - [Online sellers](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-online-sellers.html) ## Property - [Airbnb and holiday let hosts](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-holiday-let-hosts.html) - [Landlords](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-landlords.html) - [UK residents with overseas property](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-overseas-landlords.html) ## Professional services - [Consultants](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-consultants.html) - [Translators](https://mtdmatch.uk/blog/mtd-for-translators.html)