Best MTD for Income Tax software for agents

There is no single best MTD for Income Tax software for agents, and HMRC does not recommend any product. The right tool depends on how your clients keep records: in accounting software, or in spreadsheets that need bridging. Below are the practice offers with prices published on providers’ own sites, checked on 6 November 2026, listed alphabetically and not ranked.

What must agent MTD software do?

It must create or connect to digital records, send quarterly updates and submit the year-end tax return. HMRC’s software guidance, updated 13 July 2026, says the return must include other income, such as pensions, partnership profit shares, savings and dividends.

HMRC describes two types of product:

• Record-keeping software creates digital records from bank feeds, scanned receipts or manual entry.
• Bridging software connects to records kept elsewhere, such as spreadsheets, and makes the submissions.

You can use more than one product, but only one product for each separate submission to HMRC. HMRC also says software should allow multiple agents where a client has more than one.

Which agent MTD software publishes prices?

These are the practice offers we could confirm on each provider’s own site on 6 November 2026, in alphabetical order.

Sage’s pages for accountants returned errors when we checked, so Sage is not included. We could not find published MTD prices for BTCSoftware or Capium, so ask them for a quote.

FreeAgent

FreeAgent says its software submits quarterly updates and final declarations to HMRC and is on HMRC’s compatible software list. On its pricing page, the Practice Dashboard is free and firms pay only for client licences, with Partner Programme discounts that grow with volume. Partner prices are not published.

Retail prices give a guide: £19 a month for sole traders and £10 a month for unincorporated landlords, excluding VAT. Clients with a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle business account can get a free licence.

Intuit Accountant Suite (QuickBooks)

Intuit’s accountant page offers a free Core tier and an Accelerate tier. Accelerate is free during its beta, then £69 a month plus VAT from 20 January 2027. Clients billed through the firm can get up to 50% off QuickBooks Online subscriptions.

The accountant page did not set out agent quarterly update or tax return features, so check these in a demo.

IRIS Elements Tax

IRIS says Elements Tax is “MTD for ITSA-ready” and invites firms to join an MTD ITSA pilot. Tax Essentials is listed at £116.18 per user a year on a 12-month contract, with a 30-day free trial. Tax Professional shows £174.66, but the page labels it both per year and per month, and does not say whether prices include VAT. Confirm with IRIS.

TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer

TaxCalc sells a dedicated MTD Quarterly Filer for practices, priced by client band and excluding VAT. Most products are billed annually.

The year-end return is a separate product. Tax Return Production for 12 individual returns costs £187 ex VAT.

Xero

Xero’s MTD page for accountants marks quarterly updates and the final declaration as included, and says Xero can auto-populate draft tax returns from client records. Its business plans, all labelled MTD for Income Tax ready, cost £18 (Ignite), £39 (Grow), £55 (Comprehensive) and £70 (Ultimate) a month excluding VAT. New customers get 90% off for six months. Practice and partner pricing is not published.

How do you choose agent MTD software?

Work through this checklist before you commit.

1. Check HMRC’s list. Use the finder on GOV.UK to confirm the product is recognised for MTD for Income Tax.
2. Map client records. Count clients in accounting software versus spreadsheets; spreadsheet clients need bridging.
3. Check the year-end return. Make sure the product, or a linked one, files the full return with other income.
4. Check agent roles. Confirm it handles main and supporting agents.
5. Price per client. Compare band or licence costs at your real client numbers.
6. Test authorisation. HMRC’s get your software ready guidance says you connect with your agent services account, pass an identity check and repeat it every 18 months.

Which applies to your practice?

• If most clients already use cloud bookkeeping, use the agent tools of that platform.
• If many clients use spreadsheets, look at bridging, such as a quarterly filer.
• If you already use a tax suite, ask your provider for its MTD module price before switching.

Factor software into your fees: see pricing MTD services. For client-side options, see best MTD software for clients and free MTD software. Our tax software for accountants page covers wider tax suites.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best MTD for Income Tax software for accountants?

There is no single best product. HMRC does not recommend any software, so compare products on client record type, year-end return support and cost at your client numbers.

How much does MTD software for agents cost?

Published examples on 6 November 2026 include TaxCalc’s MTD Quarterly Filer from £112 for 12 clients ex VAT, usually billed annually, and Intuit’s Accelerate tier at £69 a month plus VAT from 20 January 2027.

Is there free MTD software for accountants?

FreeAgent’s Practice Dashboard and Intuit Accountant Suite Core are free to the firm, but client licences or subscriptions are usually charged.

Can I use bridging software for MTD for Income Tax?

Yes. HMRC recognises bridging software that connects to spreadsheet records and makes submissions.

How often must I reauthorise MTD software as an agent?

Every 18 months. HMRC says your software should remind you when it is due.