Self-assessment package and 'Making Tax Digital'

ChrisWalker

I’ve just purchased the self-assessment service from Crunch to submit my 24-25 tax return, but I haven’t yet filled out the questionnaire to begin the process.

Today, I received a letter from HMRC telling me I need to sign up for ‘Making Tax Digital’ (MTD) by April 2026.

What happens if I sign up for MTD now? Will I still be able to use the self-assessment service I’ve just purchased from Crunch? Should I complete the questionnaire as normal for the 24/25 tax year, and then sign up for MTD after that?

Will the Crunch self-assessment process be the same going forward from next year, or will you no longer be able to purchase an annual self-assessment package, given that records now have to be submitted quarterly under the MTD scheme?

Thanks!

Katie

Hi Chris,

Thanks for choosing to file your Self Assesment with us. Great to see you getting it done nice and early!

We’re not enrolling clients into the scheme just yet, however, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes at Crunch to ensure we’re ready for it ahead of HMRC’s deadlines.

HMRC is taking a staggered approach to moving everyone over to filing via MTD, so depending on your earnings, you may not need to enroll for up to a couple of years - though voluntary registration will be available.

We’ll be reaching out to those who meet HMRC’s requirements in the near future, and sharing regular updates as things progress, so please keep an eye on our newsletter and look out for any direct emails.

For now, please continue completing your 2024/25 return as you would normally.

Thanks,
Katie

ChrisWalker

Katie Many thanks @Katie. In that case, I’ll continue as normal this year with the self-assessment package I’ve bought from you. Based on the information and earning levels mentioned in the letter from HMRC, it sounds like I will need to file via MTD starting April 2026.

So even though I’m a ‘Crunch Free’ member (I purchase my self-assessment from you each year), will you still be contacting me in future and helping me to enrol into MTD, assuming I continue to purchase the self-assessment package each year?

In other words, after I’ve done this year’s self-assessment, do I need to follow the instructions in my HMRC letter and manually enrol myself via the HMRC website, or can I wait for Crunch to contact me and help me?

Thanks very much!

Katie

Hi Chris,

I’ve spoken to my colleague about this and we are intending to offer support for this to Crunch Free, however, it will likely be for a fee.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any further details I can share just yet, but we will be getting more information out to everyone asap, so please keep an eye out for an email.

Thanks,
Katie

ChrisWalker

OK, many thanks for the update @Katie. I’m happy to register myself with HMRC, providing I’ll still be able to purchase self-assessment packages from Crunch going forward… although I’m not sure how that will work, if records need to be submitted quarterly instead of annually.

Anyway, I guess I just need to wait for the communications from Crunch! I’ll continue with this year’s self-assessment as normal for now. Thanks for your help!

ChrisWalker

Hi @Katie Is there any update on this yet please? The way I understand it (from the communications I’ve received from HMRC), I need to file my self-assessment as normal after 5th April 2026 (i.e. for the full 2025-26 tax year) - which I will do, as normal, by purchasing your one-off self-assessment package, but after that I will then need to switch to MTD.

i.e. based on my income, my MTD deadline appears to be 6th April 2026, but I’m not sure when my first quarterly update would be due.

You mentioned that this would be supported for Crunch Free users, but I don’t see any option for this yet, and the deadline is rapidly approaching. All I can see is your page here, that offers a subscription service…

https://www.crunch.co.uk/making-tax-digital-itsa

… but nothing mentioned anywhere about Crunch Free? Any info about how I make the switch to MTD as a Crunch Free user much appreciated! Many thanks!

Katie

ChrisWalker

We’re finalising the preperations in the software and getting some help articles written, so we’re nearly there now.

There will be 2 options for using MTD for Income Tax with Crunch. If you’re looking to stick with a software only version, like you have now, you’ll need to use Crunch Lite (£10 +VAT per month) or if you’d like accountancy support as well, Crunch Sole Trader Pro (£27 +VAT per month).

For the 2025/26 tax year, you’ll file this as normal. For 2026/27, you’ll submit a quarterly, year to date filing with a final declaration at the end of the year. Tax payments are currently due at the same times - 31st January and 31st July (if you have payment on account).

In Crunch, there will be an MTD for Income Tax dashboard which will include the links to register and authorise Crunch for filng. Once you’re set up, the first MTD for Income Tax quarter will be 6th April - 5th July, with the deadline being 7th August.

Please let me know if you’ve any other questions.

Thanks,
Katie

ChrisWalker

Excellent, thanks so much for this @Katie, that’s really useful!

So just to be clear, there will be no MTD support for ad-supported Crunch Free users like myself? And I will need to upgrade to at least Crunch Lite if I want MTD support?

I assume there will be some communication from Crunch once this is all ready? At that point, I will upgrade to Crunch Lite.

I assume I’m safe to sign up to MTD on HMRC’s website in the meantime, and this won’t affect my requirement to complete a normal 2025/26 self-assessment after 5th April 2026?

Thanks so much again for your help!

ChrisWalker

And just one more thing @Katie… I assume you meant ‘Crunch Plus’ (£10+VAT per month), rather than ‘Crunch Lite’? The cheapest package (according to https://www.crunch.co.uk/software-pricing) that offers MTD for Income Tax Return filing seems to be ‘Crunch Plus’.

Or will ‘Crunch Lite’ (£4+VAT per month) also be offering MTD for Income Tax Return filing? Thanks!

Katie

Hi Chris,

That’s correct. There won’t be any MTD for Income Tax on Crunch Free or Crunch Lite. You’ll need to move to Crunch Plus. Essentially, you’ll just be spreading the cost throughout the year, rather than paying for our one-off service.

You’ll also get a few extra features, like auto-match for bank reconciliation and ad-free use.

I believe we’ve already made a few announcements in our monthly newsletter, but there should an email for launch; however, it’ll depend on your marketing preferences if you receive it. I also just checked with our Product team, and there will be an option to upgrade to Plus in your account in the next few days.

Signing up to MTD will not change how the 2025/26 return is filed.

Thanks,
Katie

ChrisWalker

Perfect, thanks so much @Katie for taking the time to write such detailed replies! I’ll sign up for MTD ASAP, and upgrade to Crunch Plus as soon as the option is there in the dashboard.

Thanks again!

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