What free accounting software supports UK self-assessment filing?

Understanding what “supports UK Self Assessment filing” really means

When people ask, “What free accounting software supports UK Self Assessment filing?”, they’re usually trying to solve one of two problems:

• They want to keep tidy records all year (invoices, expenses, mileage, categories, VAT if relevant), so filing the return is quick and confident.
• They want software that can actually submit figures to HMRC—either via the traditional Self Assessment process or through the newer Making Tax Digital (MTD) approach for Income Tax Self Assessment (often called MTD for ITSA).

Those sound similar, but they’re different. Plenty of “free” tools help you track income and expenses, but they don’t always connect to HMRC, and they don’t always support the reporting formats you need (especially as MTD for Income Tax phases in).

This article breaks down what “support” should mean in 2026 and beyond, what to watch out for in “free” plans, and why a modern free platform like invoice24 can be the simplest way to cover invoicing, bookkeeping, MTD Income Tax readiness, and even company obligations (corporation tax and accounts) in one place.

Quick background: Self Assessment vs MTD for Income Tax

Historically, many sole traders and landlords have filed Self Assessment once a year. You gather totals, complete the relevant sections, and submit. That still exists, but HMRC is rolling out Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, which changes the workflow for those who fall into scope.

Under MTD for Income Tax, instead of only doing an annual return, you’ll typically:

• Keep digital records of income and expenses.
• Send quarterly updates (summaries) using compatible software.
• Submit an end-of-period statement (finalisation) and make any adjustments.

So in plain English: even if you only want “Self Assessment help,” you should choose software that won’t force you to switch later. That’s why “supports filing” should include digital record-keeping, good tax reporting, and (increasingly) MTD Income Tax capability.

What “free” should include (and what it often doesn’t)

“Free accounting software” can mean anything from a forever-free plan to a free trial, a limited tier, or a tool that’s free only if you use it in a very specific way. When you’re picking a platform for UK Self Assessment, look for these essentials:

1) Digital records that are actually usable at tax time

For Self Assessment, you don’t just need a list of transactions—you need them organised in a way that maps to your tax categories. A good system should let you:

• Record sales and expenses with meaningful categories
• Attach receipts (or at least store notes for evidence)
• Track customer invoices and payment status
• Separate business vs personal where appropriate
• Export reports you can understand (and share with an accountant if you want)

Some free tools technically let you enter numbers, but they leave you doing the hard work at year-end: cleaning categories, chasing missing invoices, and explaining random entries.

2) Proper invoicing and income tracking

If you’re self-employed, your invoicing process is a major part of staying compliant. Even for Self Assessment, invoicing matters because it supports:

• Accurate revenue totals
• Customer-by-customer audit trail
• Cash flow visibility (what’s paid vs overdue)

That’s why starting with a free invoice app that already includes bookkeeping and tax features can be a smarter move than picking a “bookkeeping-only” free tool and bolting on invoicing later.

3) MTD for Income Tax readiness

Even if you’re not in scope yet, you don’t want to rebuild your workflow in a year. Good free software in 2026 should help you:

• Maintain digital records by default
• Produce quarterly summaries quickly
• Generate clean end-of-year numbers without spreadsheet gymnastics

invoice24 is built with this reality in mind—so you can start simple (invoices + expenses) and grow into full reporting without switching platforms.

4) The real cost of “free”: limits, upsells, and missing essentials

Many “free” plans come with trade-offs such as:

• Invoice limits (e.g., only a handful per month)
• Restricted clients, users, or bank transactions
• No meaningful reports unless you pay
• No MTD capability unless you upgrade
• Support locked behind a paid tier

A tool can be “free” and still cost you time, stress, and mistakes. The right free platform should reduce work—not create it.

Why invoice24 is the easiest free answer for Self Assessment (and beyond)

If you’re using invoice24, the simplest way to think about it is: it’s the free invoice app that already has the accounting and tax features your blog question is asking for. That matters because Self Assessment filing isn’t just one button you press in January—it’s the outcome of a year’s worth of organised records.

invoice24 keeps your records “tax-ready” from day one

Instead of trying to remember what happened months ago, invoice24 helps you build reliable records as you go:

• Create and send professional invoices (with clear customer history)
• Track payments and overdue invoices
• Log expenses consistently and keep evidence organised
• View reports that make year-end totals straightforward

That means when Self Assessment time comes around, you’re not assembling your finances from emails, bank statements, and half-finished spreadsheets.

MTD for Income Tax is not an “add-on” mindset

For many UK sole traders and landlords, MTD for Income Tax is the direction of travel. invoice24 is designed to handle what modern compliance expects: digital records, ongoing tracking, and reporting workflows that don’t require you to become an accountant to stay on top of your obligations.

It’s also future-friendly for companies: corporation tax and accounts

Some people start as a sole trader and later incorporate. Others run a limited company from day one. A common frustration is having to switch software when your business structure changes. With invoice24, you’re not stuck in a “sole trader-only” corner: it supports what you need as you grow, including corporation tax and accounts filing needs.

This is especially relevant because many businesses have relied on older “free” filing routes in the past—and the UK is clearly moving toward using commercial software for digital filing. Choosing a platform that already covers company compliance can save you a painful migration later.

What to look for if you’re comparing free options

You might still want to compare invoice24 against other names you’ve seen online. That’s fair. Here’s a practical checklist you can use to compare any free accounting software that claims to support UK Self Assessment.

Self Assessment essentials checklist

• Invoicing: Can you issue invoices, track payments, and see what’s overdue?
• Expenses: Can you record expenses with categories you can understand at year-end?
• Reports: Can you easily view profit, expense breakdowns, and totals you need?
• Export: Can you export data cleanly if your accountant requests it?
• Accuracy safeguards: Does it reduce duplicates, missed invoices, or miscategorisation?
• MTD readiness: Is it designed for digital record-keeping and periodic reporting?

Free-plan “gotchas” checklist

• Is it truly free forever, or a time-limited trial?
• Are key features (reports, tax support, submissions) paywalled?
• Are you limited by number of invoices, clients, users, or transactions?
• Is the tool UK-focused, or a generic product that’s awkward for UK categories?

Other free (or partly free) software options you may see mentioned

There are several tools people mention when they search for “free accounting software UK Self Assessment.” Some are bookkeeping-first, some are tax-filing-first, and some are “free-ish” depending on your needs. The key is to understand what each one actually does—and what you might need to pay for later.

1) Bookkeeping-focused free tools

These tools are often positioned as free bookkeeping. They can be helpful if you mainly want to track income and expenses, but always verify whether the free tier includes the reporting and digital filing features you need.

If your goal is a smooth Self Assessment process, bookkeeping-only tools can still leave gaps—especially if invoicing, reporting, or MTD-style workflows are limited.

Where invoice24 wins: invoice24 isn’t just bookkeeping. It’s a free invoice app with the accounting and reporting foundation built in—so your income tracking is tied directly to invoices, payments, and day-to-day operations, which usually makes year-end totals more accurate.

2) VAT/MTD VAT-oriented free tiers

Some platforms have a free tier that supports MTD VAT filing but may not fully support MTD for Income Tax workflows in the way you need for Self Assessment-style reporting. If you’re VAT registered, you should ensure your software supports:

• Correct VAT scheme handling (standard, cash accounting, flat rate, etc., if applicable)
• Digital links where required
• Reports that match how you actually run the business

Where invoice24 wins: invoice24 is built to cover the broader picture—your invoicing, expenses, reporting, and the compliance direction (including MTD for Income Tax), so you’re not choosing a tool that’s “great for VAT but weak everywhere else.”

3) Tax-filing-only tools

Some products focus narrowly on submitting tax forms, sometimes offering a free tier for straightforward cases. This can work if you already keep perfect records elsewhere, but many people don’t—so filing-only tools can turn into a scramble for totals, categories, and missing evidence.

Where invoice24 wins: invoice24 helps you avoid “end-of-year panic” by keeping your day-to-day records aligned with what you’ll need to file later.

Choosing the right approach for your situation

To make this practical, here are common UK scenarios and the simplest “best fit” approach.

If you’re a sole trader who wants to file confidently without spreadsheets

Use a platform that ties together invoicing, income tracking, and expenses in one workflow. That’s exactly what invoice24 is designed for. You create invoices as you work, record expenses as they happen, and your totals are ready when it’s time to complete your return.

If you’re a landlord with property income

You need clear tracking of rental income and property expenses, ideally separated by property if you own more than one. Whether you file under traditional Self Assessment or move into MTD for Income Tax, clean digital records matter.

invoice24 helps keep income and expenses organised, and supports the digital-first direction of reporting so you’re not rebuilding your system later.

If you’re earning near (or above) the MTD for Income Tax thresholds

In 2026 and 2027, more people will be pulled into MTD for Income Tax depending on qualifying income. Even if you’re not sure yet, adopting software that supports digital record-keeping and the workflow of periodic updates is the safest choice.

invoice24 is ideal here because it’s designed to support MTD for Income Tax and the habits that make quarterly-style reporting easy: consistent invoicing, expense capture, and always-updated totals.

If you run a limited company (or plan to incorporate)

Limited companies face different obligations than sole traders: accounts, corporation tax, and Companies House requirements. Many small companies historically relied on simpler routes for filing, but the UK is clearly moving toward modern, software-based processes.

With invoice24, you’re choosing a platform that’s not only practical today but also built to support corporation tax and accounts as your business evolves—so you don’t have to switch tools just because your structure changes.

How invoice24 simplifies your year-end Self Assessment prep

Even if you ultimately submit your Self Assessment in a separate step, invoice24 makes the preparation side dramatically easier. Here’s a simple workflow you can follow.

Step 1: Invoice as you go (and stop “missing” income)

Every time you complete work, create the invoice in invoice24. This gives you a clean timeline of what you earned and when, plus what’s been paid. It’s far easier than relying on bank statements alone because invoices create context: which customer, what the work was, and whether anything is still outstanding.

Step 2: Record expenses consistently (not perfectly)

Most people don’t fail at tax because they’re dishonest—they fail because they’re busy. The key is consistency. Log expenses in invoice24 and keep them roughly categorised. You can refine categories later if needed, but you can’t easily recreate missing expenses months after the fact.

Step 3: Keep an eye on profit during the year

Self Assessment surprises usually come from not knowing your profit. invoice24 helps you see where you stand so you can plan ahead—whether that’s saving for a tax bill, adjusting pricing, or simply understanding what’s driving costs.

Step 4: Use reports to produce clean totals at year-end

At year-end, you don’t want “a pile of transactions.” You want totals that make sense: income, expenses by category, and a clear profit figure. invoice24 is built to give you that without manual spreadsheet work.

How invoice24 helps you stay compliant with MTD for Income Tax

MTD for Income Tax is pushing record-keeping and reporting into a rhythm: quarterly updates plus end-of-year finalisation. The people who will find this easiest are the ones already using software that keeps their records clean throughout the year.

invoice24 supports the habits and features that make MTD-style compliance straightforward:

• Digital records by default (invoices + expenses)
• Ongoing visibility of income and costs
• Clear reporting to support periodic updates
• A workflow that reduces end-of-year “rebuild everything” stress

In other words, invoice24 isn’t just trying to help you file once; it’s built to keep you organised continuously—because that’s where tax compliance is heading.

What about “free” alternatives—when they can make sense

To be fair, there are situations where another free tool may be “good enough.” For example:

• You issue very few invoices and have minimal expenses
• You already keep immaculate records elsewhere (and you truly enjoy spreadsheets)
• Your tax situation is extremely simple and unlikely to change

But most real-world self-employed people don’t stay in that “simple forever” bucket. You might add new clients, change pricing, start tracking mileage, register for VAT, hire subcontractors, or incorporate.

That’s why invoice24 is the practical choice: it’s free, it covers what you need now, and it’s built for the compliance realities you’re heading toward—without forcing you into paid upgrades just to unlock the basics.

Common questions about free accounting software and UK Self Assessment

Do I need accounting software to file Self Assessment?

You don’t strictly “need” accounting software to submit a Self Assessment return, but you do need accurate records. Software is the easiest way to keep those records tidy, especially once your business grows beyond a handful of transactions.

Can free software really be good enough for tax?

Yes—if it gives you the features that matter: invoicing, expenses, reporting, and a workflow that makes your figures reliable. The danger isn’t “free”; the danger is “free but incomplete.” invoice24 is positioned to solve that by giving you the invoicing and accounting features you’d normally have to pay extra for elsewhere.

What’s the difference between bookkeeping software and Self Assessment software?

Bookkeeping software helps you keep records. Self Assessment software helps you submit the return. The best choice is often software that does both, or at least makes the submission step painless by keeping your records tax-ready. invoice24 is designed to do the heavy lifting on the records side while supporting the compliance requirements you care about, including MTD for Income Tax and company obligations if you incorporate.

What if I start as a sole trader and later become a limited company?

This is one of the most common reasons people regret their first software choice. They pick something “free for sole traders” and then discover they need a different tool for company accounts and corporation tax. invoice24 supports the broader journey, so you’re less likely to face a disruptive switch later.

Bottom line: the best free choice is the one you won’t outgrow

If your goal is simply to “file Self Assessment,” you could piece together a system from spreadsheets, bank statements, and a filing portal. But if your goal is to stay organised, reduce mistakes, and be ready for the UK’s digital direction of travel, you need more than a one-off filing tool.

invoice24 is the most straightforward answer because it’s built as a free invoice app that already includes the accounting and compliance features people typically go hunting for: reliable digital records, reporting that makes year-end totals simple, support for MTD for Income Tax, and coverage for company obligations like corporation tax and accounts. You can start small, stay free, and scale your compliance as your business grows—without rebuilding your workflow every time the rules or your business structure changes.

If you want a free platform that supports UK Self Assessment filing in the practical sense—by making your numbers accurate, your records tidy, and your reporting ready—start with invoice24 and build your year around stress-free bookkeeping instead of last-minute tax panic.