Featured guides
Missed 7 August? What to do now
The first MTD quarterly deadline has passed. The calm four-step plan still gets it filed, and the first-year soft landing means no penalty points.
Zoho Books vs QuickBooks (UK sole traders)
Two of the most popular options, compared on price, MTD readiness, and who each suits.
Cheapest MTD-compatible accounting software UK
The genuinely low-cost and free options that still keep you Making Tax Digital-ready.
Best accounting software for UK freelancers (2026)
The strongest picks for freelancers, with entry pricing and standout strengths.
What to look for in invoicing tools
Templates, reminders, and pay-by-link, the invoicing features that actually get you paid.
Free tools
Instant, no-signup calculators for UK sole traders, they run in your browser and never store your numbers.
Sole trader take-home calculator (2026/27)
Turn profit into estimated income tax, Class 4 NI, and take-home pay.
MTD for Income Tax deadline checker
See if and when Making Tax Digital applies to you, plus your next quarterly deadline.
VAT registration threshold checker
Enter your rolling 12-month turnover to see your headroom to the £90,000 VAT threshold.
Working from home flat-rate calculator
Enter your hours worked from home to get your £10, £18 or £26 a month use-of-home allowance.
Self-employed mileage calculator
Enter your business miles for the approved amount at 55p and 25p (car/van) or 24p (motorcycle).
The one thing we built ourselves
From CashPilot · MTD Ready Kit
Comparisons are what we do, but we also built the MTD Ready Kit: the record-keeping workbook and weekly habit that makes the new quarterly deadlines a non-event. £29 + VAT, 14-day no-questions refund. Not software, not advice, the habit layer.
See what's inside →How we compare
Every comparison weighs the few things that actually matter when HMRC, Making Tax Digital, and your time are on the line, not the longest feature list. Our flagship guide walks all seven in full.
- 1. Making Tax Digital readiness
- 2. Real pricing, not headline pricing
- 3. Bank feeds that reconcile
- 4. Invoicing that gets you paid
- 5. Expense capture
- 6. Getting your data out
Honest by default
Some links are affiliate links and are clearly labelled; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use them. It doesn't change what we recommend. CashPilot does not guarantee income, savings, or results, and nothing here is financial, legal, or tax advice, always verify current terms on the provider's website.
Never be surprised by an MTD deadline again
MTD for Income Tax means four quarterly deadlines a year: 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. We will email you before each one, with a short checklist of what to get ready. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
4 emails a year, one before each MTD quarterly deadline, with dates from GOV.UK. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe any time. The guides stay free either way.
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