How to Sign Up for MTD on GOV.UK — Step by Step

Before you can use any MTD software (including Flonancial), you need to sign up for Making Tax Digital through GOV.UK. Here's exactly how.

What you'll need

• Your Government Gateway user ID and password (the same one you use for Self Assessment)
• Your National Insurance number
• Your business start date
• Your email address

If you don't have a Government Gateway account, you can create one during the process.

Step 1: Go to the sign-up page

Visit Sign up your business for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax on GOV.UK.

Step 2: Sign in to Government Gateway

Click "Sign up" and sign in with your Government Gateway credentials. If you file Self Assessment already, use the same account.

Step 3: Confirm your details

HMRC will show your name, National Insurance number, and any businesses they have on record. Check these are correct.

Step 4: Choose your accounting method

You'll be asked whether you use cash basis or accruals basis accounting. Most sole traders use cash basis (you record income when you receive it, expenses when you pay them). If you're unsure, cash basis is the simpler option.

Step 5: Confirm and sign up

Review your details and submit. HMRC will send you a confirmation. The sign-up can take up to 72 hours to process, though it's often quicker.

What happens next

Once signed up, you can connect MTD software to your HMRC account. In Flonancial, this means clicking "Connect HMRC" on your dashboard — you'll be redirected to Government Gateway to authorise the connection.

Common issues

• "You've already signed up" — check if a previous agent or accountant signed you up
• "We can't find your business" — make sure you've filed at least one Self Assessment return
• Sign-up not available yet — HMRC is rolling out sign-ups in phases; check back in a few days