QuickBooks has no free plan for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Its sole trader software starts from £10 a month plus VAT, with a 30-day free trial. QuickBooks says it is HMRC-recognised, and its help pages show how to send both quarterly updates and the final declaration. Two limits matter with QuickBooks MTD software: it doesn’t support overseas property, and you need a separate account for each income source.
QuickBooks MTD plans
| Plan | Who it’s for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Trader Plus | Sole traders and landlords who aren’t VAT registered | From £10 a month plus VAT, says QuickBooks |
| Simple Start | VAT-registered businesses | Not confirmed from QuickBooks’ own pages |
QuickBooks’ pricing page loads its prices in a way we couldn’t read, so the £10 figure comes from its MTD software page and blog. Check the pricing page for the current price. QuickBooks also offers 90% off for 6 months, but if you take the discount you don’t get the free trial.
Sole Trader Plus includes bank feeds, a mobile app and receipt capture, for one user plus your accountant. We found no invoice limit.
Can QuickBooks send quarterly updates and the tax return?
Yes for quarterly updates. QuickBooks’ help pages also give steps for submitting the final declaration, with no “coming soon” label. One caution: those help articles name the Simple Start, Essentials and Plus plans, not Sole Trader Plus. QuickBooks’ marketing says all plans are ready for MTD for Income Tax. If you’re buying Sole Trader Plus, confirm with QuickBooks that it sends the final declaration.
QuickBooks MTD for landlords
QuickBooks supports UK property income. It has two limits:
- No overseas property. QuickBooks says it doesn’t currently support foreign property businesses for MTD for Income Tax.
- One account per income source. QuickBooks says you need a separate QuickBooks account for each business income source. If you have rent and self-employment, that means two subscriptions.
We couldn’t confirm how it handles jointly owned property.
How to connect QuickBooks to HMRC
QuickBooks’ help article gives these steps:
- Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax with HMRC.
- In QuickBooks settings, set your business type to Sole Trader or Landlord.
- Go to All apps, then Income Tax.
- Select the option to continue to HMRC, and sign in with your Government Gateway details.
- Grant permission.
- Back in QuickBooks, enter your National Insurance number.
- Choose your income source and confirm your accounting period.
- Check your quarterly obligations are showing.
You repeat the authorisation every 18 months. Our guide on how to sign up for MTD covers step 1.
What to check before you choose QuickBooks
- The current price on QuickBooks’ own pricing page.
- That Sole Trader Plus sends the final declaration, not just quarterly updates.
- Whether you need two subscriptions, if you have both rent and self-employment.
- That you have no overseas property income.
- Trial or discount: you can’t have both.
Want a free option? See our free MTD software comparison, or try the MTD software picker.
Sources: QuickBooks’ MTD software page, MTD for Income Tax page and help centre. Checked 5 October 2026. MTD HQ is independent and not connected to QuickBooks. This page has no affiliate links and is general information, not tax advice.