Accounting Software for Couriers UK: MTD Compatibility, Sole Trader Support and What to Compare
If your gross qualifying income exceeds £50,000 you must use HMRC-recognised MTD-compatible software from April 2026. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028. This guide covers what to compare — the Shift Tracker is a shift-logging and earnings tool, not HMRC-recognised accounting software.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) Thresholds
MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) requires digital records and quarterly HMRC updates above the following gross qualifying income thresholds: above £50,000 from 6 April 2026; above £30,000 from 6 April 2027; above £20,000 from 6 April 2028. Qualifying income means gross turnover before expenses — not taxable profit. If you work for multiple platforms (Evri, Amazon Flex, Deliveroo), add all gross income together. Source: GOV.UK MTD for Income Tax timeline.
Sole Trader vs Limited Company Accounting Needs
Sole traders need to record gross income from all platforms, allowable expenses (fuel, hire-and-reward insurance, vehicle maintenance, mobile phone business proportion), and either the HMRC approved mileage rate (55p/mile for the first 10,000 business miles, 25p/mile after) or actual vehicle costs — but not both for the same vehicle. Limited companies additionally need corporation tax preparation, Directors' loan account tracking, dividend accounting, and Companies House annual accounts. Most limited-company courier drivers use an accountant alongside accounting software.
Comparison Criteria
Key criteria: HMRC recognition and MTD ITSA compatibility (check the GOV.UK software list before purchasing); self-employment and sole-trader workflow support; mileage tracking integration; direct bank feed; Self Assessment and quarterly MTD submission capability; courier-relevant expense categories; VAT support if registered; pricing tier that includes all needed features; accountant access; mobile app quality for on-the-road use. The CourierForum Shift Tracker is a shift-logging tool — useful as a day-to-day earnings log but not a substitute for HMRC-recognised accounting software.
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