Does MTD apply to me as a plumber?
MTD for Income Tax is based on qualifying income: your total self-employment and UK property turnover before expenses. For a busy plumber, turnover passes the thresholds much sooner than profit does, because materials and parts count towards it.
- 6 April 2026: qualifying income over £50,000
- 6 April 2027: qualifying income over £30,000
- 6 April 2028: qualifying income over £20,000
If you work through a limited company, MTD for Income Tax does not apply to the company. If you are VAT registered, MTD for VAT already applies.
What counts as income for plumbers
Every job you invoice counts: installs, repairs, boiler swaps, call-outs and any parts you charge for. Parts and materials you pass on to the customer are part of your turnover.
Expenses you should be recording
- Van costs or mileage at HMRC's approved rates
- Parts and materials
- Tools and equipment
- Insurance and trade memberships
- Phone and software
Record them as you go, with a photo of each receipt, so your quarterly totals are right first time.
Quarterly deadlines
- 6 April to 5 July: update due 7 August
- 6 July to 5 October: update due 7 November
- 6 October to 5 January: update due 7 February
- 6 January to 5 April: update due 7 May
- Final Declaration and any tax to pay: 31 January after the tax year ends
Keeping records without the evenings of admin
The plumbers who find MTD easiest are the ones who record each job the day it is done. A quote, an invoice and a payment for every job means most of your income records already exist when the quarter ends.
Where Fixxa fits
Fixxa is built with Making Tax Digital in mind. You talk or message on WhatsApp, Fixxa builds the quote or invoice, and Fixxa Pay sends faster payment links. Every job becomes a clean digital record you or your accountant can use for quarterly updates. Fixxa is £19.99 a month or £190 a year, with a 14 day free trial and no card needed. Direct quarterly submissions to HMRC are on the Fixxa roadmap.