Creating your MTD for IT services

There are three different approaches to servicing your clients for MTD for IT, depending on how tech-savvy they are, and how much they are involved in their own bookkeeping. Think about which of the following groups your clients fall into.

1. Client wants their advisor to do as much as possible

• The business owner runs the business without any ‘formal’ bookkeeping processes.
• The advisor is/will be responsible for preparing and filing all tax returns.
• This includes preparing the business accounts using information collected from the business owner.

Impact of MTD for IT

• Your practice will need to assess fee structures and may require these kinds of clients to improve their record keeping or bookkeeping habits in order to keep their fees down, or consider increasing fees to manage the workload of MTD for IT.

2. Client wants to collaborate

• The client maintains business records to keep track of profit/loss throughout the year.
• The accountant or bookkeeper is responsible for preparing and filing the ‘year end’ tax returns.

Impact of MTD for IT

• Accountants and bookkeepers will want to formalise the record keeping process, moving the business owner on to software and encouraging more real time exchange of non-business information.
• You might encourage clients to prepare and submit the quarterly updates depending on their capability and/or fees structure

3. Client wants to self-manage

• Business owner already prepare their own tax returns without any guidance from their accountant or bookkeeper, and plan to file their own MTD for IT returns too.
• They may come to you for bigger picture advisory or other services.

Impact of MTD for IT

• Some business owners may seek advice from their accountant or bookkeeper about MTD for IT but it’s likely they will continue to self-serve when it comes to tax.