Quick Start
Create Your Account#
Sign up at TaxMTD with your email. Non-VAT registered sole traders can use the free Starter plan with no card required. For paid plans (Essential, Pro, Business, Practice), a 14-day free trial is included.
Set Up Your First Period#
An assessment period is a monthly reporting window used for Universal Credit. Navigate to Settings → Periods and create your first period.
If you don't claim UC, you can use calendar months or any date range you prefer.
Connect Your Bank#
Go to Banking and connect via:
- Open Banking (Plaid) - automatic feeds from 300+ UK banks
- PayPal - import sales, purchases, and refunds
- CSV Upload - manual import from NatWest, Starling, Monzo, and more
Import Transactions#
Upload your bank statement CSV from the Import page. TaxMTD auto-detects the bank format and pre-categorises common transactions using known merchant patterns.
Run AI Categorisation#
Click AI Categorise on the Transactions page. Gemini AI analyses each uncategorised transaction and assigns an HMRC-compliant expense category with a reasoning explanation.
Review & Adjust#
- Correct any miscategorised transactions - TaxMTD remembers your changes
- Split transactions between business and personal use
- Mark personal spending to exclude it from tax calculations
View Your Dashboard#
Your Dashboard shows real-time:
- Income & expenses breakdown
- Profit trend charts
- UC calculation with payment estimate
- Categorisation progress tracking
Manage Your Subscription#
Navigate to Settings → Billing to:
- View your current plan and usage against limits (entities, invoices, receipts, team members)
- Purchase add-ons for extra capacity (entities, employees, OCR bundles) without changing plan
- Upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time - changes are prorated automatically
- Access the Stripe Customer Portal to update payment methods or view invoices
The Starter plan is free forever for non-VAT sole traders (no card required). Starter covers day-to-day bookkeeping and MTD quarterly submissions; the yearly Self-Assessment (SA103S) submission to HMRC requires the Essential plan. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial. If you hit a usage limit, you can purchase an add-on or upgrade your plan directly from the billing page.
Stay Informed#
Visit the TaxMTD Blog for expert guides on HMRC rules, tax compliance tips, IT security news, and economic updates relevant to sole traders and small businesses.