Is there any free Making Tax Digital software for electricians?

Yes. On 18 October 2026, 13 products on HMRC's software finder listed a free version ready now for sole traders and CIS deductions. If you are VAT registered, check that the free plan covers your VAT returns.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD) means keeping digital records, sending HMRC four updates a year and filing your tax return through software. HMRC's campaign guide says it has no MTD software of its own. GOV.UK says free products are available for those with simple tax affairs, but there may be limits, such as a set number of transactions. HMRC does not recommend any product or software provider.

Which features an electrician needs

CIS, if a contractor pays you. HMRC's CIS 340 guide lists installing systems of lighting and power supply as construction work, but says repairing, servicing or extending an existing system is not included on its own, nor are security systems. HMRC's manual adds that fire alarms which only sound a warning are outside CIS, but fire detection that also sets off sprinklers is inside. CIS 340 also says one contract that mixes covered and excluded work brings all of it within CIS, and that private householders are not counted as contractors. So a consumer unit swap paid for by a homeowner is outside CIS, while wiring new builds for a builder is usually inside it. See does CIS apply to electricians.

VAT, if you are registered. GOV.UK says you must register once your taxable turnover in the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or if you expect it to go over £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. Making Tax Digital for VAT already requires VAT-registered businesses to keep digital records and file VAT returns using software.

The reverse charge. If you are VAT registered, HMRC's technical guide says the domestic reverse charge applies to standard and reduced rate building services reported within CIS where your customer is registered for VAT and CIS and has not told you in writing that they are an end user or an intermediary supplier. It does not apply to a private domestic customer. HMRC's finder has no entry for it.

The 13 free versions ready for CIS

Each product below showed a free version, sole trader and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) as ready now on its finder page on 18 October 2026. The VAT column is the finder's entry for the product, not a promise that its free plan files VAT returns. We counted what the finder states; we have not tested them.

All 13 came from the 47 products ready for sole traders and CIS, out of 156 ready for sole traders and 173 listed. What each vendor says its free version covers, and its catches, is in our free MTD software for builders guide, checked the same day. FreeAgent's free version depends on having a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business current account, or a Mettle account with at least one transaction a month. See our MTD software census for full counts.

If you are VAT registered

GOV.UK asks you to check whether your VAT software also works with MTD for Income Tax, or whether your chosen software can meet your VAT needs. You can use two products, but GOV.UK says only one can be used for each separate submission, and they must work together.

For the reverse charge, GOV.UK says to make sure your accounting systems and software can deal with it. If your software cannot show the reverse charge amount, HMRC's technical guide says the invoice must state the rate of VAT instead, with a note that the domestic reverse charge applies and the customer must account for the VAT. A free plan that only sends MTD updates may leave invoicing to you.

What this means for you

MTD started on 6 April 2026 for qualifying income over £50,000. It starts on 6 April 2027 if your 2025-26 qualifying income was over £30,000, and on 6 April 2028 if it was over £20,000 in 2026-27. Qualifying income is self-employed and property income before expenses.

At the end of the year, GOV.UK says HMRC adds the CIS deductions it holds to your MTD tax return, and you must check them before you submit. GOV.UK also says you can change software at any time, but it may be easier at the end of the tax year. If you outgrow a free plan, see changing software mid-year, and the best MTD software for electricians for paid options.

If you would rather hand it over, our Trades Tax plan is £35 a month including VAT. The founding offer for the first 500 trades clients is £5 a month for your first 3 months, then £35 a month. Cancel any time. We'll remind you before it changes. Our tax plans start once our HMRC registrations are complete. Until then you can join the waitlist, and no payment is taken.

Steps to choose free software

1. Use the free MTD check to confirm when MTD starts for you.
2. Look at last year's jobs: how much was CIS work for contractors and how much was paid direct by homeowners.
3. On HMRC's finder, check free version and sole trader show ready now, plus CIS if contractors pay you.
4. If you are VAT registered, read the vendor's free plan for VAT returns and reverse charge invoices.
5. Try it on a month of real jobs, CIS statements and materials receipts before your first quarter.

There are more guides in the trades section.