How we collect and check our data
HMRC’s list, checked daily
Every product on MTD Radar comes from HMRC’s Find software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax service. Each morning we read every product’s HMRC listing, about one page a second, and save a dated copy. HMRC currently lists 173 products.
The features in our table (free version, sole trader, landlord, bridging, CIS and so on) are exactly what each software provider has told HMRC:
- ✓ Ready now: available now.
- dev (In development): the provider has committed to building it in time for the 2026 to 2027 tax return.
- – Not included: not available in that product.
GOV.UK says all listed software “has been through HMRC’s recognition process” and that HMRC “does not recommend any product or software provider”.
The change log
We compare each day’s copy with the previous one and record every product added or removed and every change to a listing, with the date. That’s the change log.
If a day’s check returns no products, far fewer than the day before, or an unusually large number of changes, we don’t publish it. We investigate first, so a fault on HMRC’s site or ours can’t wipe the list.
Prices and “really free?” checks
For the products we’ve researched, we read the vendor’s own pricing and help pages and record:
- the cheapest plan that can file MTD for Income Tax, per month or per year, and whether VAT is included;
- whether quarterly updates and the tax return are free, and on what conditions;
- landlord, agent, joint property and spreadsheet bridging details.
Every researched product shows the date we checked it and the pages we used. If something isn’t published, we say unknown rather than guess. “—” in the price column means we haven’t researched that product yet.
How accurate are the prices?
Prices come from each provider’s own website and can change without notice. We re-check them regularly: every week we re-read the pages each price came from, and when something changes we check the product again by hand. Even so, prices may not always be 100% accurate, so confirm the price with the provider before you buy.
Spotted something wrong? Email [email protected] and we’ll check it.
Really free means the product files your quarterly updates and tax return for free, with no bank account, time limit or single-income-source condition. Free with conditions means it does, but only if you meet a condition.
Order and independence
The table is A to Z by default, and money never changes it. Sponsored and featured placements are labelled and kept outside the table. See how we make money.