aligned.tax
HMRC-recognised MTD Income Tax software for spreadsheet users; free for individuals with no card and no time limit.
by aligned.tax
Strongest fully-free MTD Income Tax route for a spreadsheet-first individual who covers sole trader or property income. No card, no time limit, and Foreign property income is included on the free tier which is rare on HMRC's recognised list. A reader mandated from April 2027 will need a separate product for the year-end Final Declaration until aligned.tax's Tax return submission (currently "In development" per HMRC's finder) ships. Practices get free multi-client access until April 2027, then per-client tiered pricing.
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Overview
aligned.tax is HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software for sole traders, landlords and the practices that support them. Users can upload their own spreadsheet, or start with a free bookkeeping template. Smart Map suggests how the figures fit HMRC's categories; they review the mapping and numbers before filing a quarterly update directly to HMRC. Filing your own quarterly updates is free with no card or time limit. For accountants and bookkeepers, the practice workspace adds a multi-client worklist showing HMRC filing status, secure client uploads, record requests and chasing, and review and filing from one place. Practices can use it alongside their clients' existing systems without moving everyone onto the same bookkeeping package.
Free tier
Individuals filing their own MTD Income Tax quarterly updates get a permanently free plan: no card, no time limit, no turnover or transaction cap. Includes Smart Map automatic mapping, unlimited quarterly submissions, reusable mapping templates, direct HMRC API filing, full audit trail, corrections and re-submissions. Per HMRC's own recognised software finder (productId 3485), aligned.tax's free version covers Quarterly updates for Sole trader, UK property, and Foreign property income sources. Tax return (Final Declaration) submission is listed as "In development" on HMRC's finder, not shipped yet.
+Pros
- ✓Free for individuals with no card and no time limit, per aligned.tax's own pricing page
- ✓Covers Sole trader, UK property AND Foreign property on the free tier, broader than most spreadsheet bridging tools
- ✓Practice workspace free until April 2027, useful for accountants and bookkeepers building an MTD ITSA client base
- ✓Direct HMRC API submission from a spreadsheet, no separate bridging tool needed
−Cons
- ✕Currently quarterly updates only; year-end Tax return (Final Declaration) is listed "In development" on HMRC's finder, not shipped yet
- ✕MTD VAT filing is not supported (Income Tax only)
- ✕Practices pay per active client from April 2027 (£1.50+VAT/mo per client for 4-25 clients, scaling to £0.75+VAT at 51+)
If aligned.taxisn't quite right
Closest alternatives worth a look before you commit.
Spreadsheet-first bridging for sole traders and landlords; £20/tax year for quarterly updates on the first income source.
Genuinely free tier for sole traders and landlords with straightforward affairs; paid plans from £10/mo (annual billing).
aligned.tax, frequently asked questions
How much does aligned.tax cost?+
Free for individuals filing their own MTD Income Tax quarterly updates, with no card and no time limit. Practices get the multi-client workspace free until April 2027. From the 2027/28 tax year, practice pricing is £1.50+VAT per active client per month for 4-25 clients, £1+VAT for 26-50, and £0.75+VAT for 51+; clients 1-3 remain free.
Is aligned.tax free forever, or is it a trial?+
aligned.tax describes the free plan as "the plan, not a trial" — permanent, no card required, no time limit. Confirmed against aligned.tax's own pricing page (2026-09-27).
Does aligned.tax file the end-of-year Tax return?+
Not yet. Per HMRC's recognised software finder (productId 3485), aligned.tax currently supports Quarterly updates as "Ready now" and Tax return submission as "In development". If you are mandated from April 2026 or April 2027 you will need a separate product to file the Final Declaration until aligned.tax's Tax return submission ships.
Which income sources does aligned.tax's free tier cover?+
Per HMRC's finder, aligned.tax's free version covers Quarterly updates for Sole trader, UK property, and Foreign property income sources today, which is a broader coverage than most spreadsheet-bridging tools on HMRC's recognised list. Additional income sources (employment, dividends, pension income, charitable giving, capital gains and others) are listed as "In development" for the 2026-27 tax year.
Does aligned.tax file MTD VAT?+
No. aligned.tax is for MTD Income Tax only. If you need MTD VAT filing too, look at Zoho Books' free tier (both), My Tax Digital (both), or FreeAgent via a NatWest Group or Mettle business account (both).