No live price list is reproduced here. Provider prices, eligibility and limits can change. This page names no preferred vendor, uses no affiliate links and does not treat HMRC recognition as a recommendation.
What HMRC says about free and paid options
HMRC does not provide MTD for Income Tax software. Its July 2026 guidance says free products are available for people with simple tax affairs, but their use can be limited, for example by the number of transactions. HMRC’s finder includes recognised software, but HMRC does not recommend a product or provider.
“Free”, “low-cost” and “paid” do not describe whether a product supports your complete tax return. Check current provider terms directly and repeat the check before the mandatory start or renewal date.
Questions for every option
| Check | Why it changes the real cost |
|---|---|
| Income sources | A basic plan may not cover several businesses, UK and foreign property, or the other income needed for the tax return. |
| Transactions and users | Free access may have transaction, business, client, user or agent limits. |
| Quarterly updates and tax return | Confirm both are included. A records product may need a separate submission product. |
| Bridging and imports | Check spreadsheet formats, digital connections and whether manual re-entry will be needed. |
| Support and accessibility | Setup, error resolution, screen-reader use and assisted support may differ by plan. |
| Renewal, exit and export | Check renewal terms, cancellation, data export and how long records remain accessible. |
| VAT as well as Income Tax | Recognition for one regime does not prove support for the other. |
Record the decision without relying on a marketing page
- Write down the income sources, record method, update period, agent access and final-return features required.
- Use HMRC’s current finder to identify recognised options that match those facts.
- Open the provider’s current eligibility, feature, privacy, accessibility, support, export and price terms.
- Keep a dated note of what was checked. Recheck material terms before renewal or a change in tax affairs.
Return to the full software requirements checklist.
Primary sources
- HMRC: choose the right software for MTD for Income Tax — free-product availability, possible limits and non-recommendation statement; updated 13 July 2026; retrieved 1 September 2026.
- HMRC software finder for MTD for Income Tax — recognised options and needs-based filtering; retrieved 1 September 2026.
- HMRC: if HMRC has signed you up — confirms free and paid options and the need to cover all income sources; retrieved 1 September 2026.