--- title: "MTD Bookkeeping Compliance in Cardiff | Luminaire Accounts" description: "Stay compliant with Making Tax Digital. We set up your bookkeeping, keep digital records tidy, and submit MTD VAT returns on time." canonical: "https://hlsaccounting.co.uk/services/making-tax-digital-mtd-bookkeeping-compliance" --- Bookkeeping Services # Making Tax Digital (MTD) Bookkeeping Compliance We help small businesses and sole traders across Cardiff get ready for Making Tax Digital, so you can meet HMRC's new quarterly reporting rules without the headache. From software setup to ongoing submissions, we keep you compliant and give you a clearer view of your finances year-round. [Book a free consultation](https://calendly.com/hlsaccounting/new-client-meeting) 10 Years serving South Wales 2026 MTD deadline for ITSA 100+ Clients supported ![A professional bookkeeper at a modern desk reviewing financial records on a laptop while holding a receipt, with neatly arranged invoices and receipts in the foreground.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fbookkeeper_tax_compliance_workspace.jpg%3Fv%3D1773064224135&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_DEc4fGhEc1SCRZZutzoEsRuDy1CJ) ## Everything under MTD compliance Whether you're a sole trader, landlord, or growing business, we cover every piece of the Making Tax Digital puzzle so you can focus on what you do best. ### MTD Software Setup We help you choose, install and configure MTD-compatible software or bridging tools that fit your business and budget. ### Quarterly Update Submissions We review your digital records and submit your quarterly updates to HMRC on time, every time. ### Digital Record Management We keep your income, expenses and VAT records organised and compliant, whether you manage day-to-day or we handle it all. ### Final Declaration Filing At year-end, we file your End of Period Statement and Final Declaration, confirming your total tax liability with HMRC. ## Getting ready for Making Tax Digital From April 2026, HMRC requires sole traders and landlords with turnover over £50,000 to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates instead of an annual Self Assessment return. If you fall into that threshold, or you're close and want to get ahead, Making Tax Digital compliance means choosing the right software, keeping tidy records, and filing on time four times a year. We guide Cardiff and South Wales businesses through the whole process, from setup to your final declaration. We start by helping you pick MTD-compatible software that suits your business, whether that's cloud accounting like Xero or QuickBooks, or bridging software if you prefer spreadsheets. Once you're set up, we show you how to capture receipts, record income and expenses, and keep everything HMRC-ready. Then every quarter we review your figures, submit your update, and keep you posted on your estimated tax position so there are no surprises come January. > You'll know exactly where you stand with your tax, every three months. More information Many sole traders and small business owners worry that quarterly reporting means four times the admin. In practice, it spreads the workload across the year and catches errors early, which usually makes year-end far less stressful. If you've got multiple income streams, like self-employment and rental properties, we handle separate submissions for each and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. We also support you with HMRC correspondence, software updates, and any questions that come up along the way. Whether you're a tradesperson in Pontypridd, a salon owner in Penarth, or a landlord with a handful of properties across the Valleys, we tailor our service to your volume of transactions and how hands-on you want to be. Some clients prefer to manage their own records and have us review quarterly, while others ask us to take care of bookkeeping, reconciliations and submissions end-to-end. Either way, you get accurate, timely filings and a much clearer picture of your cash flow and profitability throughout the year. ### What's included - **Software selection and setup**: We help you choose MTD-compatible tools, register with HMRC's Government Gateway, and get everything connected. - **Digital record-keeping**: Income, expenses, dates, descriptions and VAT (if applicable) organised in line with HMRC rules. - **Quarterly submissions**: We prepare and file your updates every three months, on time and error-free. - **End of Period Statement and Final Declaration**: At tax year-end, we confirm your total income and tax liability with HMRC. - **Ongoing support**: Deadline reminders, estimated tax guidance, HMRC communication help, and regular check-ins to keep you on track. If you're not sure whether MTD applies to you yet, or you want to understand what it means for your specific setup, a free consultation is the best place to start. We'll look at your turnover, income sources, and current bookkeeping, then recommend a plan that fits your budget and keeps you compliant when the rules kick in. ### Ready to get MTD-ready? Book a free consultation and we'll talk through your situation, your software options, and how we can support you from April 2026. [Book a free consultation](https://calendly.com/hlsaccounting/new-client-meeting) ### While you're here - [Month-End Close / Year-End Close](/services/month-end-close-year-end-close)→ - [Cash Flow Statement](/services/cash-flow-statement)→ - [Bank Reconciliation](/services/bank-reconciliation)→ ## Worth considering Bookkeeping Services ### Balance Sheet Balance sheet preparation and review, reconciled from your bookkeeping and explained clearly, so you can file accounts, plan ahead and talk to banks with confidence. [Balance Sheet→](/services/balance-sheet) Bookkeeping Services ### Profit & Loss Statement Preparation Clear profit and loss statements prepared from your records, with plain-English insight into margins, overheads and true profitability for the period. [Profit & Loss Statement Preparation→](/services/profit-and-loss-statement-preparation) Bookkeeping Services ### Receipt Management & Paperless Accounting Go paperless without the stress. Capture receipts by phone or email, keep them organised and matched to transactions, and make VAT and year-end accounts much simpler. [Receipt Management & Paperless Accounting→](/services/receipt-management-and-paperless-accounting) Bookkeeping Services ### Accounts Payable & Receivable Management Stay on top of customer invoices and supplier bills. We track debtors and creditors, chase overdue payments, schedule payments and share clear monthly summaries. [Accounts Payable & Receivable Management→](/services/accounts-payable-and-receivable-management) Bookkeeping Services ### Bank Reconciliation We reconcile your bank to your bookkeeping records, fix mismatches and clear uncleared items, so your figures are reliable for VAT, accounts and cash flow. [Bank Reconciliation→](/services/bank-reconciliation) Bookkeeping Services ### QuickBooks Setup & Training Get QuickBooks set up for your business, with bank feeds, VAT settings and invoicing, plus practical training so you can keep your books tidy each week. [QuickBooks Setup & Training→](/services/quickbooks-setup-and-training) ## Before you book These are the questions we hear most often from sole traders and small business owners getting ready for Making Tax Digital. Do I need to sign up for Making Tax Digital if my turnover is under £50,000? Not yet. From April 2026, MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment applies to sole traders and landlords with turnover over £50,000. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027. If you're below that, you can still join voluntarily to benefit from better record-keeping and real-time tax visibility. What software do I need and will it cost extra? You need MTD-compatible software like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or FreeAgent, or bridging software if you prefer spreadsheets. Costs vary from free or low-cost options to around £10-£30 per month depending on features. We help you choose the right fit for your business and budget. What happens at each quarterly submission? Every three months, we review your digital records of income and expenses, then submit an update to HMRC summarising your position for that quarter. You'll also get an estimate of your tax liability so far, helping you plan ahead and avoid a big bill at year-end. Can you handle everything, or do I need to do my own bookkeeping? We offer flexible service levels. Some clients manage their own records using software or mobile apps, and we review and submit quarterly. Others prefer us to handle bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and submissions from start to finish. We tailor it to suit how hands-on you want to be. I've got rental income and self-employment income. Does that complicate things? You'll need separate quarterly submissions for each income type, but we manage that for you. We make sure both streams are recorded correctly, filed on time, and reflected accurately in your Final Declaration at year-end. What's the difference between quarterly updates and my final tax return? Quarterly updates are summaries of your income and expenses for each three-month period. At year-end, you file an End of Period Statement and a Final Declaration, which confirm your total income, claim any reliefs or allowances, and finalise your tax bill. The Final Declaration replaces the old Self Assessment return. When do I need to register for Making Tax Digital? You must register via your HMRC Government Gateway account once you meet the turnover threshold and before your first quarterly deadline. We guide you through the registration process and make sure everything is connected and ready to go before April 2026. Will this service save me time at year-end? Yes. Because your records are kept up to date and reviewed quarterly, there's far less scrambling in January. You'll also have a much clearer view of your tax position throughout the year, so you can set money aside and avoid surprises. ## Let's talk about Making Tax Digital Book a free consultation and we'll walk you through what MTD means for your business, which software suits you best, and how we can keep you compliant from day one. [Book a free consultation](https://calendly.com/hlsaccounting/new-client-meeting)