Not getting on with your Making Tax Digital software? You can switch
If you chose Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software to get through your first quarterly update and have since decided it isn't right for you, you don't have to stick with it. HMRC allows you to change your software at any time.
TaxNav is HMRC-recognised and offers a simple, low-cost alternative for people who don't need extensive additional bookkeeping functionality for Making Tax Digital (MTD IT). You can try TaxNav free for 30 days before deciding whether to switch.
With the second quarterly update deadline approaching on 7 November 2026, now could be a good time to consider whether your current software is right for you.
Your first MTD IT software choice doesn't have to be your final one
For many people, the first quarterly update was also their first real experience of using Making Tax Digital software. If that experience wasn't as simple or hassle-free as you hoped, you don't have to stick with your original choice. HMRC's guidance confirms that you can change MTD IT software at any time.
Why you might want to switch Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software
There are lots of reasons why your first choice of MTD IT software might not have felt right once you started using it. Perhaps your software doesn't work easily with your existing spreadsheet, you need separate licences for your self-employment and property income, or you're paying for features you don't actually need.
You may find that bank feed functionality in the software still leave you with records to enter manually, the software doesn't support the way you want to report, or getting help when you need it isn't straightforward.
Or you may simply find your MTD IT software confusing and want a simpler way to meet your Making Tax Digital obligations. Whatever the reason, you don't have to stay with software that isn't working for you.
What happens to a quarterly update you've already submitted?
If you submitted your first quarterly update using another software provider, changing software does not cancel or remove that submission from HMRC.
When you connect TaxNav to HMRC, our software can access the relevant quarterly information held by HMRC and display it on our simple, user-friendly dashboard.
However, there is a distinction between information submitted to HMRC and the detailed digital records held in your previous software. You are still responsible for retaining the digital records required under MTD.
Before cancelling an existing subscription, check what information you need to export or retain and whether you will continue to have access to it. You should also check your provider's terms and conditions.
What if you missed the first quarterly update?
You can still catch up. The first standard quarterly update for 2026/27 was due by 7 August 2026.
HMRC has confirmed that it will not apply penalty points for late quarterly updates during 2026/27. You still need to submit the updates with each reporting cumulative year-to-date income and expenses. They must be submitted before you can complete your annual declaration, which remains subject to late-submission penalties.
If you haven't submitted Q1, you can select new MTD-compatible software, connect it to HMRC and make the outstanding submission.
If Q1 has already been dealt with, you could instead switch ahead of Q2. This is due by 7 November 2026 for both the standard and calendar update periods.
Switching doesn't mean changing everything you do
TaxNav is designed specifically to make Making Tax Digital for Income Tax compliance simple. Rather than building a large bookkeeping package and adding MTD IT to it, we've focused on what self-employed people and those with property income need to meet their obligations simply and affordably.
You don't have to adopt bank feeds or additional bookkeeping functionality. If you already keep your records in a spreadsheet, you can continue using it.
TaxNav's HMRC-recognised bridging technology works with Excel, Google Sheets and Apple Numbers, allowing your spreadsheet information to flow digitally into TaxNav. Alternatively, you can enter your income and expenses directly into our software.
Check out our multiple 5-star reviews on Trustpilot to see what users say about how simple we've made MTD IT.
Flexible to different ways of working
With just one TaxNav account, you can manage multiple MTD IT income sources, including self-employment and property income. We also cater for:
- standard or calendar* update periods
- consolidated or categorised expenses, where HMRC's rules allow
spreadsheet bridging or direct record entry - quarterly update submissions and your year-end tax return
*If you have already submitted a quarterly update this tax year, HMRC doesn’t allow you to change between standard and calendar update periods until the next tax year.
Try TaxNav before deciding
TaxNav includes a 30-day free trial, so you can explore the software before committing to a paid plan. There are no long-term commitments and you can cancel at any time. You can also sign up to access a demo with sample data.
If you still need to submit your first quarterly update, you can use TaxNav to help you catch up. If Q1 is already submitted, you can explore TaxNav ahead of Q2 instead.
After the trial, TaxNav costs £6 + VAT per month or £60 + VAT per year, with one licence covering all your MTD IT self-employment and property income sources.
Ready to see if Making Tax Digital could be simpler?
If MTD IT felt harder than it needed to be first time around, see if TaxNav makes it simpler.
Start your 30-day free TaxNav trial today and explore a straightforward, low-cost way to manage your MTD IT obligations. Whether you need to catch up with Q1 or want to switch ahead of Q2, you can see how TaxNav works before deciding if it’s right for you.