ANNA Money Review UK 2026: In-Depth Analysis

ANNA Money is a UK business bank account with a built-in bookkeeping, VAT and Corporation Tax engine, all delivered through a single mobile app. The name stands for Absolutely No Nonsense Admin, and the product is squarely aimed at sole traders, freelancers and micro-limited companies who would rather not run a separate bank, bookkeeping tool and tax filer. For a business turning over less than around £200,000 a year, ANNA collapses the typical three-app stack into one subscription.

This review covers ANNA’s 2026 pricing, the four account tiers, the MTD VAT and Corporation Tax filing flows, integrations, and the situations in which a different product makes more sense.

Quick verdict

• Best for: UK sole traders, freelancers and director-only limited companies that want banking, bookkeeping and tax filing in one mobile app.
• Not for: VAT-registered businesses with complex multi-currency or stock requirements, larger companies needing departmental reporting, or anyone wanting a desktop ledger.
• Headline price: free Pay As You Go account, paid tiers from £14.90 per month.
• MTD status: HMRC-recognised for MTD VAT, with in-app Corporation Tax filing for limited companies.
• Deployment: mobile-first app with a companion web portal.

What is ANNA Money?

ANNA Money is a London-based fintech founded in 2018 by Eduard Panteleev, Daljit Singh, Boris Dyakonov and Nikita Filippov. It launched as an SME-focused business bank account aimed at owner-managed companies, then progressively layered on accounting features, MTD VAT submission and, more recently, Corporation Tax filing. ANNA is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an electronic money institution and partners with a regulated bank for safeguarding of customer balances.

The product is exclusively UK-focused. Every account comes with a UK sort code and account number, a Visa business debit card and a mobile app that doubles as the bookkeeping interface. ANNA does not chase the international market and does not try to compete with multi-entity platforms. Its target user is the limited company director paying themselves a small salary and dividends, the consultant invoicing a handful of clients, or the trades business that wants its receipts categorised the moment a card payment lands.

In the UK fintech landscape, ANNA sits in the same competitive set as Tide, Starling Business, Mettle, Countingup and Coconut. What distinguishes it from challenger banks like Starling is the depth of the tax filing tooling. What distinguishes it from accounting-only tools like FreeAgent is that the bank account is part of the same product, so transactions arrive pre-categorised with no feed to configure.

Pricing breakdown

ANNA operates four published account tiers. Pricing is shown excluding VAT, which is added at checkout for most plans. All tiers include the business current account, debit card and mobile app.

Plan	Monthly price	Best for	Card payments	Tax filing included
Pay As You Go	Free (transaction fees apply)	Very low-volume sole traders	£1.20 per transfer out, £3 per cash deposit	None
Plus	£14.90 + VAT	Sole traders and micro-Ltds with regular trading	5 free transfers, then £0.20 each	MTD VAT
Pro	£49.90 + VAT	Limited companies needing tax filing	Unlimited free transfers	MTD VAT and Corporation Tax
Big Business	£99.90 + VAT	Higher-turnover Ltds with multiple users	Unlimited free transfers	MTD VAT, Corporation Tax, payroll add-ons

Pay As You Go is genuinely free to open and hold, but every payment in or out carries a fee. It suits a side-business that takes a handful of payments a month. Plus is the entry point for any business actually trading, and is the cheapest tier that includes MTD VAT submission. Pro is the natural choice for limited companies because it bundles Corporation Tax filing, which would otherwise cost £200 or more through a high-street accountant or filing agent.

Big Business adds higher transfer limits, dedicated support, multiple cardholders and bolt-on payroll. ANNA also charges separately for some optional services, including international payments via a third-party provider and additional debit cards.

Worked example: limited company director on Pro

A consultant operating through a VAT-registered limited company invoices roughly £8,000 per month, pays themselves a £12,570 salary plus dividends, and has around 25 expense transactions per month. On the Pro plan that business pays £49.90 + VAT per month, totalling £718.56 per year including VAT. That fee covers the bank account, MTD VAT submissions every quarter, the annual Corporation Tax filing, expense categorisation, invoicing and receipt storage. There is no separate Xero, QuickBooks or VAT bridging subscription on top.

Compared with running a Tide business account at around £9.99 per month plus FreeAgent at £19 per month plus a £200 annual Corporation Tax filing fee, ANNA Pro is broadly cost-comparable but consolidates billing and removes the integration work between bank, books and tax.

Core features in depth

Business bank account and debit card

The account is a full UK business current account in the company or trading name. It includes a sort code and account number for receiving customer payments, Faster Payments out, Direct Debit set-up, standing orders and a Visa business debit card. ANNA supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, and customers can issue additional cards for staff on the higher tiers. Cash deposits are available through the Post Office network, with a fee per deposit on lower plans.

Customer balances are safeguarded under FCA rules rather than protected by FSCS, which is the standard arrangement for an electronic money institution. Anyone needing FSCS-protected deposits should hold larger balances elsewhere.

Automatic expense categorisation

Every card transaction and bank transfer is auto-categorised in the app using ANNA’s transaction recogniser. Categories map to common HMRC expense headings (travel, subsistence, software, office costs, professional fees), and the recogniser learns from manual recategorisations. Receipts can be photographed in the app and attached to a transaction, or forwarded by email to an ANNA receipt mailbox. The app also handles a “1% to charity” round-up feature that some users find useful for record-keeping.

For sole traders, this categorisation feeds directly into the Self Assessment estimator. For limited companies, it feeds the books that underpin the Corporation Tax computation.

Invoicing and chasing

ANNA includes a built-in invoicing module. Users can create branded invoices, attach a payment link (open banking pay-by-bank or card), schedule recurring invoices and send automated chasers. Paid invoices reconcile against incoming bank receipts automatically. This removes the need for a separate invoicing tool such as Square Invoices or a Stripe-only flow, although for businesses that need recurring subscription billing or complex line items, dedicated invoicing tools remain stronger.

MTD VAT calculation and submission

ANNA calculates VAT on every categorised transaction and prepares the nine-box return inside the app. Users can submit directly to HMRC under Making Tax Digital. The tool supports standard, flat rate and cash accounting schemes, and handles the partial exemption use case at a basic level. Submissions are stored in the app for the six-year HMRC record retention requirement.

Corporation Tax filing

On Pro and Big Business, ANNA generates the CT600 from the year’s bookkeeping and files it directly with HMRC. The flow asks the director to confirm or override key entries (capital allowances, R&D-related items, director loans), produces the iXBRL accounts and submits both the company tax return and the abridged accounts to Companies House where eligible. This is one of the few in-app Corporation Tax filers aimed at micro-companies.

Self Assessment for sole traders

Sole traders on the Plus plan get an in-app Self Assessment estimator that runs throughout the year and a tax pot that automatically sets aside an estimated proportion of income. ANNA can prepare the SA103 self-employment pages and submit the return to HMRC. The flow is intentionally simple and best suited to sole traders without complex add-ons such as foreign income, multiple property pages or large capital gains.

Pots, taxes and cash flow

ANNA includes savings pots, a VAT pot and a tax pot. The tax pot is calculated on real-time profits and updated as transactions land. This is a meaningful cash-flow tool for users who would otherwise spend their tax money before the bill arrives.

Reporting

Reporting is the area where ANNA is most clearly a micro-business tool. The app provides profit and loss, a basic balance sheet for limited companies, a VAT report and a cash flow view. There is no full general ledger, no departmental reporting, no class or tracking categories, and no consolidated reporting across multiple entities. Exports are available as PDF and CSV.

MTD and HMRC compliance

ANNA is recognised by HMRC as MTD VAT-compatible software and is listed on the HMRC software search. VAT submissions go directly from the app to HMRC, with digital links maintained between source transactions, the VAT calculation and the submitted return, satisfying the digital links requirement.

For Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, ANNA is among the providers preparing for the April 2026 mandation phase for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000. ANNA has communicated that quarterly updates and end-of-period statements will be supported within the existing Self Assessment flow. Users with property income only, or with a mix of trading and property income, should confirm their specific scenario before relying on ANNA for ITSA filing.

For Corporation Tax, ANNA submits the CT600 and iXBRL accounts directly to HMRC under existing CT online filing arrangements. HMRC is consulting on a future MTD for Corporation Tax regime that will likely require digital record-keeping and quarterly updates from companies, and ANNA is well positioned to absorb that change because the bookkeeping and filing are already in one tool.

Integrations

ANNA’s integration footprint is deliberately narrow. The product is built around the principle that the bank account and the books are one thing, so it does not need a wide ecosystem of bank feeds. The main integration touchpoints are:

• Open banking inbound payments via the embedded pay-by-bank invoice link.
• Card acquiring through a partner (used for invoice payment by card).
• Payroll bolt-on for limited companies, available on higher tiers.
• An accountant access portal that lets an external bookkeeper or accountant log in and review the books, raise journals and assist with VAT or Corporation Tax sign-off.
• Export to CSV and PDF for ad-hoc handovers to external accounting tools.

What ANNA does not do is integrate broadly with third-party apps. There is no marketplace of hundreds of connectors as on Xero or QuickBooks, no native Stripe or PayPal connector that pulls fees and payouts at the line level, no inventory or e-commerce sync, and no Dext or Hubdoc-style receipt OCR partnerships beyond ANNA’s own capture. Businesses with a significant Shopify or Stripe operation will hit limits quickly.

Pros

• Single subscription replaces a typical three-product stack of bank, bookkeeping tool and tax filer.
• UK business current account with sort code, account number and Visa business debit card is included on every plan.
• HMRC-recognised MTD VAT submission is included from the £14.90 Plus tier upward.
• In-app Corporation Tax filing on Pro is rare among micro-business tools and removes the need for a separate filing fee.
• Automatic expense categorisation works well for typical UK expense categories without manual rule-building.
• Tax pots automatically ring-fence VAT and Corporation Tax money as transactions land.
• Companies House abridged accounts filing is integrated for eligible micro-entities.
• Mobile-first design suits owner-operators who run the business from their phone.
• Customer support is UK-based with same-day chat response on paid tiers.

Cons

• Reporting is shallow. There is no full general ledger, no class or tracking dimensions, and no consolidated multi-entity view.
• Mobile-first means the web portal is functional rather than feature-complete, which can frustrate users who want to do bookkeeping at a desk.
• Integration ecosystem is narrow compared with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. Heavy Stripe, Shopify or inventory users will need a separate stack.
• Multi-currency support is limited. Businesses that bill or pay in EUR or USD frequently will find the tooling thin.
• Customer balances are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected, which is normal for an EMI but worth knowing.
• Self Assessment flow assumes a relatively simple return. Users with multiple property pages, foreign income or significant capital gains may need to file outside ANNA.
• Pro tier is a notable jump from Plus, and small VAT-registered limited companies may feel they are paying for capacity they do not yet use.
• Inventory, stock and bill of materials are not supported.

When to pick ANNA Money

ANNA is the right tool for a director-only limited company that wants a single bill for banking, bookkeeping, VAT and Corporation Tax. It suits the consultant, contractor, agency principal or trades business owner who values having tax pots fill themselves up automatically and a CT600 that can be reviewed and filed without leaving the app.

It is also strong for sole traders who want a clear separation between personal and business banking, automatic Self Assessment estimates, and a simple route to MTD compliance as the April 2026 ITSA mandation rolls out. Users who travel often and prefer to manage everything from a phone will find the experience well thought through.

Newly incorporated companies in their first or second year are a particular fit. ANNA grows naturally with them: start on Plus while turnover is below VAT threshold, upgrade to Pro at the point Corporation Tax filing becomes the priority, and only consider moving to dedicated accounting software when reporting demands outgrow the app.

When NOT to pick ANNA Money

ANNA is the wrong tool for any business that needs a real general ledger. If you want department- or class-level reporting, full chart of accounts customisation, or audit-grade financial statements, choose Xero or QuickBooks Online and pair them with a separate business bank account such as Tide or Starling.

It is also wrong for businesses with heavy multi-currency, inventory or e-commerce operations. A Shopify and Stripe operation reconciling hundreds of payouts a month belongs in QuickBooks Online or Xero with the appropriate connector apps. A wholesaler tracking stock belongs in Sage or QuickBooks.

If you want a separate, established UK business bank account without the bookkeeping engine, Starling Business or Tide give a similar account experience at a lower or zero monthly cost. Both can be paired with FreeAgent (free with a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Mettle account in many cases) for a different cost shape.

Finally, contractors operating inside IR35 through an umbrella company do not need ANNA at all, and contractors outside IR35 with complex director loan accounts may find FreeAgent or Crunch better suited because of their stronger ledger reporting.

Comparable software

ANNA’s nearest competitors are the other UK fintechs that combine banking with some level of bookkeeping or tax tooling, alongside the freelancer-focused accounting platforms that pair with a separate bank account. The card grid below shows the products that overlap most closely with ANNA’s category mix, including Tide and Starling on the banking-included side and Coconut, Countingup, FreeAgent and Crunch on the sole-trader and freelancer side. Use it to shortlist the tools that best fit how you intend to run banking, bookkeeping and tax across the next two to three years.

FAQs

Is ANNA Money a real bank?

ANNA Money is an electronic money institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, not a fully licensed bank. Customer balances are safeguarded under FCA rules with a partner bank, which is the standard arrangement for UK fintechs of its type. This means deposits are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 in the way a high-street bank account would be, but they are ring-fenced from ANNA’s own funds.

Does ANNA Money submit MTD VAT returns directly to HMRC?

Yes. ANNA is on HMRC’s recognised software list for MTD VAT and submits the nine-box return directly to HMRC from the app. Submissions and confirmation receipts are stored in the app for the six-year retention period. Standard, flat rate and cash accounting schemes are supported.

Can ANNA Money file Corporation Tax for a limited company?

Yes, on the Pro and Big Business plans. ANNA generates the CT600 and the iXBRL accounts from the bookkeeping data and submits the company tax return directly to HMRC, plus the abridged accounts to Companies House where the company qualifies as a micro-entity. Directors review and confirm key entries before submission.

How much does ANNA Money cost for a sole trader?

A sole trader can use the free Pay As You Go account, which has no monthly fee but charges £1.20 per outbound transfer and £3 per cash deposit. Most actively trading sole traders find the £14.90 + VAT Plus plan more cost-effective once transaction fees and the included MTD VAT submission are taken into account.

Is ANNA Money suitable for two-director limited companies?

Yes, ANNA supports limited companies with multiple directors and shareholders, and the higher tiers allow multiple users with cards. However, the Self Assessment estimator focuses on a single director-shareholder. Companies with two equal director-shareholders splitting dividends will need to handle each person’s Self Assessment separately, either through ANNA or through their own filing route.

Will ANNA Money support MTD for Income Tax in April 2026?

ANNA has stated it is preparing for MTD ITSA, which mandates quarterly updates and end-of-period statements for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 from April 2026. Users should check the latest in-app guidance for confirmation that their specific circumstances (trade only, property only, or mixed) are covered before relying on ANNA for their first quarterly submission.

Can my accountant access my ANNA Money account?

Yes. ANNA provides an accountant access portal that lets an external accountant or bookkeeper log in, review transactions, raise journals and assist with VAT or Corporation Tax sign-off. This is included on Plus and above.

Does ANNA Money handle payroll?

Payroll is available as an add-on on the higher tiers and is suitable for director-only or small-team payrolls. Companies running payroll for more than a handful of employees, or with complex pension or benefits arrangements, will usually be better served by a dedicated payroll product such as BrightPay or Sage Payroll integrated with separate accounting software.

Can I switch from ANNA Money to Xero or QuickBooks later?

Yes. ANNA exports transaction history and reports as CSV and PDF, which can be imported into Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Accounting or other ledgers. Most businesses make the switch when reporting requirements outgrow ANNA, typically once turnover passes around £200,000 or when the business takes on staff or a finance hire.

Does ANNA Money work for landlords?

ANNA supports landlords as sole traders, including basic rental income tracking through transaction categorisation. However, dedicated landlord platforms such as Hammock provide deeper functionality around per-property profit and loss, Section 24 mortgage interest restriction calculations and HMO-specific reporting. Landlords with more than a handful of properties should compare carefully.

Final summary

ANNA Money packages a UK business bank account, automated bookkeeping, MTD VAT submission and Corporation Tax filing into a single mobile app priced from £14.90 + VAT per month. For sole traders and director-only limited companies that have been juggling a bank, an accounting subscription and a separate filing fee, the consolidation is the headline benefit. Tax pots fill themselves, expenses categorise themselves, and the CT600 can be reviewed and filed without leaving the app.

The trade-off is depth. Reporting is intentionally light, the integration ecosystem is narrow, and the product is not built for multi-currency, inventory or larger team operations. Businesses that need those capabilities will be better served by Xero or QuickBooks Online paired with a standalone business bank account such as Tide or Starling. For everyone else inside ANNA’s intended user base, it remains one of the most coherent ways to run a small UK business in 2026.