Accountant for sole trader near me, for MTD

If you are a UK sole trader looking for an accountant near you, decide first what you need them to do. Many people now want help with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD). That is HMRC’s system for digital records and quarterly updates, not only a tax return at the year end.

You can ask MTD Match to introduce you to one local accountant. It happens only with your say-so. You do not have to go ahead. This is information, not tax advice.

What an accountant can take off your plate

A sole trader is someone in business in their own name, not through a limited company. You report your profits through Self Assessment.

An accountant can:

• keep your income and expense records
• send quarterly updates (a digital summary of income and expenses so far that tax year)
• complete your Self Assessment return
• tell you what they need, and by when

You are not required to use an accountant. Some people keep records themselves. Hire one if you want the filing done, or you would rather not learn the software.

Check whether MTD applies

You need MTD for Income Tax if you are a sole trader or a landlord (or both) and your qualifying income is over the threshold, unless you are exempt. Qualifying income is self-employment turnover plus rents, before expenses.

HMRC’s thresholds are:

• over £50,000 from 6 April 2026
• over £30,000 from 6 April 2027
• over £20,000 from 6 April 2028

See Using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax on GOV.UK (checked 9 October 2026).

Income only from a job, pension, savings, dividends or a partnership share does not bring you into MTD. HMRC’s records and notices decide your obligations.

If you are not sure of the figures, look at that year’s tax return or your HMRC online account. You can also use the free Do I need MTD? checker. It is 4 questions, takes about a minute, and needs no sign-up.

What to look for near you

Near me can mean a high street office, or a practice that covers your postcode and works by email. For MTD, most of the work is digital. A named person who replies quickly often matters more than a short drive.

Work through this list. It is not a ranking.

Ask about	Why it matters
Professional body	Ask if they belong to ICAEW, ACCA, AAT, CIOT or ATT (or another body). Check it before you agree.
Income Tax MTD, not only VAT	VAT digital records are a different product. Confirm they already send quarterly Income Tax updates for sole traders.
What the fee includes	Bookkeeping, quarterly updates, the year-end return, meetings and software can be separate. Get the scope in writing.
Which software	Updates have to go through compatible software. Ask which package, and whether you need your own login.
How you send records	Agree bank exports, photos of receipts, a shared folder or a spreadsheet: pick a method you will keep up.
Who you speak to	A named contact and a usual reply time beat a generic inbox.

Accountants are independent businesses. They set their own fees. Compare what is included, not only the monthly figure. Before you agree, ask about fees, their professional body, and which MTD software they use.

Software, spreadsheets and who presses send

HMRC does not take quarterly updates by email or on paper. Compatible software sends them. HMRC publishes a list of software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (checked 9 October 2026).

You can work inside the accountant’s software. You can also keep a spreadsheet and use bridging software: a separate program that takes the figures and submits them. Say on day one who will press send.

MTD Match is not HMRC, not a tax adviser and not filing software. It does not send anything to HMRC. A spreadsheet is not HMRC-recognised software.

Questions worth asking once

1. Do you already handle MTD for Income Tax for sole traders?
2. What is in the fee, what is extra, and when do you invoice?
3. Which professional body are you in? If you are a limited company or LLP, what is your company number?
4. Which software do you use, and do I pay for a licence?
5. How should I pass you records during the year?
6. Who is my contact, and what is a normal reply time?
7. If we are introduced, will you contact me within 2 working days?

Note the answers. You can speak to one firm and stop.

How a local introduction works

If you would rather not ring around, you can ask MTD Match to introduce you to one accountant. You never pay to be introduced. You never receive a list. Only the practice that takes your request sees your name and contact details.

1. Fill in the form: name, email, postcode, phone if you wish, sole trader or landlord or both, income band, the help you want, and how to contact you. The help options include getting set up, bookkeeping and quarterly updates, the full tax return each year, or not sure yet, you would like a chat.
2. Tick the consent box. That lets MTD Match share your details with one practice. While it looks, it may tell up to 5 firms near you that a request exists in your postcode district, without your name, contact details or message.
3. Member practices that cover your district see it first. The first practice to take it gets your details, and only that one.
4. You are emailed who it is. They are asked to contact you within 2 working days. There is no obligation.

Member practices give their professional details when they join. Firms found nearby can come from public listings (Google Maps and Companies House). Those firms have not joined MTD Match before, and MTD Match has not checked their work. Only limited companies and LLPs that show a company number on their own website are contacted that way.

If nobody takes the request within 30 days, it closes and you are emailed. Your details were never shared. You can withdraw at any time. Your details are then erased, and any practice that received them is asked to delete its copy.

What this will not do

This will not give you personal tax advice. It will not sign you up for MTD. You do that on GOV.UK with your Self Assessment sign-in. It will not promise a practice in every postcode. MTD Match does not employ accountants. It is not responsible for their advice, their services or their fees.

Ask while it is still a small task

If you want a local accountant for MTD, or you only want a chat, use the introduction form. One practice, your consent.

Ask MTD Match to introduce you to one local accountant