About Tax Software Compared

Tax Software Compared is an independent UK website that helps sole traders and landlords choose software for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. We compare bookkeeping, landlord and payroll software in plain English, so you can make a calm, informed choice.

Why did we start Tax Software Compared?

MTD for Income Tax is the biggest change to Self Assessment in years. If your qualifying income is over £50,000, it applies from 6 April 2026. Over £30,000, it starts on 6 April 2027, and over £20,000, on 6 April 2028 (GOV.UK). HMRC does not provide its own software, and its list has 171 compatible products. That's a lot to sort through when you'd rather be running your business.

Our mission is simple. We want to help you get through MTD without stress, with honest comparisons that tell you what each product costs and who it really suits. Not sure if MTD applies to you yet? Try our free Do I need MTD? checker.

Are we independent?

Yes. Tax Software Compared is not owned by, funded by or linked to any software company, HMRC, or any bank. No provider can buy a place in our rankings or pay to change a review. We decide what to write and how to rank products, based on our published scoring method.

Who are we?

Tax Software Compared is written by the Tax Software Compared Editorial Team. We are a small team who care about clear, accurate information for people who run their own businesses or let property.

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[Named qualified reviewer, e.g. FCCA / ATT: name, credentials, and what they review]

You can read more about how we research, check and correct our pages in our editorial policy.

How do we make money?

Some links on our site are affiliate links. If you click one and then sign up, the provider may pay us a commission. It costs you nothing extra. This income pays for our research and keeps the site free.

Commission never decides our rankings. In fact, some of the products we rate most highly pay us nothing at all. These include FreeAgent, Hammock, Pandle, Coconut and 123 Sheets. We recommend them where they're the best fit, because that's the honest thing to do. For example, FreeAgent sits near the top of our best MTD software list because it's free for many bank customers, not because it pays us.

For a full list of which providers may pay us and which don't, read our affiliate disclosure.

A quick example of how we help

Imagine Priya, a self-employed graphic designer (an illustration, not a real customer). She earns £36,000 a year before expenses and also rents out one flat. She isn't sure which software covers both. Our sole trader guide and landlord software guide show her which plans handle both types of income, what they cost, and which free options exist. Then she can decide for herself.