ANNA Money gains HMRC nod for Making Tax Digital app

ANNA Money has been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as a certified software provider for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, adding the fintech to the list of tools taxpayers can use under the new digital reporting regime.

The accreditation covers Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, which requires some self-employed people and landlords to keep digital records and submit updates to HMRC using compatible software. The change shifts those in scope away from a single annual return.

Through its app, ANNA Money users will be able to submit quarterly updates directly to HMRC. The company says the approval will help reduce the administrative burden for sole traders and small businesses as the policy expands.

MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment is scheduled to begin for higher earners from April 2026 under HMRC's current timetable. Those in the first phase will need to send quarterly updates and an end-of-year submission using approved software, rather than filing once a year.

The requirement is part of HMRC's broader move to digitise tax administration, with VAT already covered by Making Tax Digital rules for many businesses. Income Tax reporting has a wider base of taxpayers, including sole traders, freelancers and landlords. The expansion has raised questions about readiness, costs and the changes needed to record-keeping practices.

Product changes

ANNA Money says its platform automatically categorises transactions and keeps digital records once a customer connects accounts. It also prepares information for quarterly submissions, reducing manual input and the risk of errors from rekeying figures.

The firm is also launching a feature called Auto Accountant, which it describes as software that can prepare and file returns across several tax types, including Corporation Tax, VAT and Self Assessment. ANNA Money says the feature is MTD-ready for Self Assessment.

Auto Accountant will be available for free for MTD Self Assessment filings for the 2026/27 tax year, according to the company. The offer covers quarterly updates and the year-end submission for that period.

ANNA Money also highlighted that the group expected to be brought into scope first under the revised Income Tax programme. Under current government plans, those earning over £50,000 will be required to start using HMRC-approved software for MTD for Income Tax from April 2026.

Quarterly filing represents an operational shift for many sole traders, who often manage accounts around the annual Self Assessment deadline. Accounting software suppliers, banks and app-based providers have been adapting products to HMRC's technical framework and testing process. HMRC maintains a list of recognised software options for taxpayers.

Market context

ANNA Money operates in a crowded market for small business finance and tax administration, including challenger banks, accounting platforms and payroll providers. Its wider proposition combines a business account with invoicing and receipt capture, plus tools that set aside money for tax, according to the company.

ANNA Money says it has supported more than 100,000 UK businesses and has a 4.5 rating on Trustpilot. It has also expanded internationally, entering the Australian market in 2025. In the UK, it plans to add expense management and credit cards.

HMRC approval is a key route to market for software firms serving Making Tax Digital customers. Providers must demonstrate they can interact with HMRC systems and meet data and submission requirements. For small businesses, the certified list is likely to shape buying decisions as the Income Tax regime approaches.

Eduard Panteleev, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ANNA Money, linked the approval to concerns among smaller firms about the transition.

"Today's HMRC approval is a huge vote of confidence in ANNA Money and our offering to small businesses owners across the UK. While many SME owners and sole traders are still feeling uncertain about their future with the introduction of MTD, we're making sure cost and complexity don't stand in the way growing their businesses. We are delighted to be included on the approved providers list," said Panteleev.

The shift to quarterly updates is expected to prompt more small businesses and landlords to adopt bookkeeping tools earlier in the tax year. Software providers are likely to compete on automation, ease of use and pricing as HMRC's Income Tax rollout approaches.