Self-Assessment Tax Returns & Making Tax Digital (MTD) Services

Stress-Free Tax Compliance for Sole Traders, Freelancers & Landlords

Managing your tax obligations doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. We can help you with Making Tax Digital or assist with your Self-Assessment tax return. We provide expert, personal support that takes the hassle out of tax compliance.

Making Tax Digital is Changing Everything
From April 2026, HMRC is introducing Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. If you’re a sole trader or landlord earning over £50,000, you’ll need to:

  • Keep digital records using MTD-compliant software
  • Submit quarterly updates throughout the year
  • File your year-end tax return digitally

We know change can feel overwhelming. New software, quarterly deadlines, digital record-keeping requirements… It’s a lot to take in when you’re already busy running your business or managing your properties.

That’s exactly why we’re here.

Self-Assessment Tax Return Making Tax Digital MTD

You won’t be passed around a team or left wondering who’s handling your accounts. When you work with us, you get one dedicated bookkeeper who takes the time to understand your business, your income streams, and your goals. They’re always just a phone call or email away. We are real humans too! No AI making mistakes around here.

Worried about choosing the right software? Don’t be. We include Xero cloud accounting software in all our packages. A fully MTD-compliant and one of the most trusted platforms available. We’ll set it up for you and show you exactly how to use it (or we can handle everything ourselves if you prefer).

We are experienced with other software providers (Sage, Quickbooks, FreeAgent) if you would prefer to use something more familiar to you.

Gone are the days of scrambling to find receipts and bank statements in January. With our quarterly review system, your records stay up-to-date all year round. No surprises, no penalties, no sleepless nights before the deadline.

One wrong figure can trigger an HMRC enquiry or costly penalties. We are number nerds and we review every transaction and submission to ensure everything is accurate and compliant. You can relax knowing experts are looking after the details.

How many hours do you spend each year trying to make sense of your finances? Our clients tell us they save 20+ hours annually which is time they now spend growing their business, finding new tenants, or simply enjoying life outside of work.

Our Packages Designed for Your Business

We understand that every business is different. Some of our clients love staying involved with their bookkeeping, while others prefer to hand everything over to us. That’s why we offer flexible packages.

Fair pricing for your business: Silver and Gold packages are priced based on your monthly transaction volume so you only pay for what you need.

BRONZE

Self-Serve Support: Perfect if you're confident with bookkeeping but want expert support with your year-end tax return and peace of mind that everything's compliant.
From £21 Monthly
  • You record all transactions
  • You submit quarterly MTD updates
  • We file your year-end tax return
  • Final accounts preparation
  • Year-end tax adjustments
  • End of Year submission
  • Xero software included
  • Email & phone support
Can be paid yearly at £250

SILVER

Supported Service: Ideal if you want to stay hands-on but need regular quarterly reviews to catch any issues early and ensure your MTD submissions are spot-on. We file your quarterly updates.
From £30 Monthly
  • You record all transactions
  • We review & correct quarterly
  • We submit quarterly MTD updates
  • We file your year-end tax return
  • Final accounts preparation
  • Year-end tax adjustments
  • End of Year submission
  • Xero software included
  • Email & phone support
Pricing is based on the volume of monthly transactions
Popular

* Prices are valid for the 2026/2027 tax year

GOLD

Fully Managed Service: The complete hands-off solution. We record every transaction, manage all quarterly submissions, and handle your year-end return. You focus on your business.
From £40 Monthly
  • We record & categorise all transactions
  • We review & correct quarterly
  • We submit quarterly MTD updates
  • We file your year-end tax return
  • Final accounts preparation
  • Year-end tax adjustments
  • End of Year submission
  • Xero software included
  • Priority email & phone support
Pricing is based on the volume of monthly transactions
  • Software Included - Xero accounting software worth over £100
  • Transparent Pricing - Fixed monthly fees based on your transaction volume, no surprises
  • MTD Experts - We stay up-to-date so you don't have to
  • Personal Service - Your dedicated bookkeeper, not a faceless call centre or AI
  • Always Available - Email and phone support whenever you need us

Ready to Make Tax Simple?

Just fill in our quick online form and we’ll get back to you promptly to discuss your requirements. We’ll provide you with a no obligation quote.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)
Frequently Asked Questions

Many accounting software packages now include AI features for categorising transactions. They can be helpful but they’re not a replacement for expert oversight.

  • AI makes mistakes. It might categorise correctly 80% of the time but those errors lead to incorrect tax calculations and potential HMRC penalties. AI can’t distinguish between business and personal expenses or understand complex tax rules.

You’re still responsible and if AI-categorised records contain errors, HMRC will hold you liable and not the software company. When you work with us, you have professional accountability and insurance protection. Complex situations need human expertise. Mixed-use expenses, capital allowances, CIS deductions, these require professional judgment that AI simply cannot provide.

Think of AI as a helpful tool but you still need an expert reviewing the work and making final decisions. We combine technology for efficiency with professional knowledge to ensure accuracy and compliance. You can focus on running your business instead of checking the AI got it right.

You need MTD-compatible software to keep your digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC. We include Xero cloud accounting software in all our packages. It’s fully compliant, user-friendly and trusted by thousands of UK businesses.

While we provide and recommend Xero, if you’re already using other MTD-compliant software (like QuickBooks or FreeAgent), we can work with that too. Just let us know during your consultation.

Absolutely! Many of our clients felt the same way initially. We provide ongoing support to help you feel comfortable. And if you really don’t want to handle the software yourself, our Gold Managed package means we do everything for you.

You can keep paper receipts and invoices for your own reference but your official records for HMRC must be kept digitally in MTD-compliant software. We can help you develop a simple system that works for you.

Digital records include sales invoices, purchase receipts, bank statements, and expense records stored in your accounting software. The key is that they’re kept electronically and can produce the reports HMRC requires.

Yes, modern cloud accounting software like Xero uses bank-level encryption and security. Your data is often safer in the cloud than on a single computer that could crash or be stolen. Plus you can access your records from anywhere.

A transaction is any financial movement in or out of your business. This includes sales, purchases, expenses, bank transfers, loan payments, etc. We’ll help you estimate your typical monthly volume during your consultation.

Silver and Gold packages are priced based on your monthly transaction volume starting from £30/month and £40/month respectively. This means you only pay for what you need and seasonal businesses pay less during quieter months.

No. Our pricing includes everything: the accounting software (Xero), all quarterly MTD submissions, year-end tax return filing, final accounts preparation, and ongoing support. What you see is what you pay.

Absolutely. If you start with Bronze and find you need more support, or if your business grows and transaction volumes increase, we can adjust your package at any time.

Yes! You’ll have a dedicated bookkeeper who gets to know you and your business. They’ll be your main point of contact throughout the year so you’re never passed around or starting from scratch with someone new.

This depends on your package. For our Gold service, you’ll simply send us your bank statements, receipts, and invoices. We also have an app where you can instantly upload photos of receipts when you pay for something.

For other packages, you’ll record transactions yourself and we’ll review them. We’ll discuss exactly what’s needed during your consultation.

We’ll show you the easiest method for your situation.

Not unless you want to! We work with clients all over the UK using phone, email, and video calls. All our software is cloud-based so we can work together seamlessly from anywhere.

We are more than happy to meet over a coffee too (depending on your location). Everyone likes to work differently so we can adjust to what you prefer.

Don’t worry! That’s part of what we’re here for. We send regular reminders and follow up if we’re waiting for information. Our job is to keep you on track without adding to your stress.

That is our bread and butter, what we deal with everyday! We will advise you on allowable expenses for your specific business type. We’ll help you understand what you can and can’t claim so you maximise legitimate deductions without taking risks.

Yes, we are ICB certified bookkeepers with an additional diploma in self-assessment tax. Our practice licence number is 24644 and we carry full professional indemnity insurance for your peace of mind.

Simply complete the form on this page or send us an email to info@watermanbookkeeping.co.uk. We’ll discuss your business, explain how MTD affects you, and recommend the right package for your needs.

Our first chat is a chance for us to understand your needs and for you to see if we’re the right fit for your business. There’s no pressure to sign up.

Once you decide to proceed, we can usually have you set up within a week. This includes getting your software configured, migrating any existing data and providing initial training if needed.

 

No problem. We can start working with you at any point in the tax year. We’ll get your records up to date from where you are now and take it from there.

We hope you’ll love working with us but if for any reason you want to leave, you can cancel with 30 days notice. We’ll ensure all your records and files are handed over properly.

Absolutely. We work with landlords with single properties and those with extensive portfolios. Our pricing scales with your transaction volume so you’re always paying fairly for the work involved.

Of course, there are so many different forms of income such as savings interest, dividend income, foreign income, capital gains, etc. We can help with your self-employment income and ensure it’s correctly reported. We’ll coordinate with any employment income to ensure your overall tax position is accurate.