The 2026 Tax Return.
Simplified.

Vibe Books is designed for sole traders who need MTD for Income Tax but are not VAT registered.

If you're a sole trader with qualifying income over £50,000 you must use MTD-compatible software from 6 April 2026. Over £30,000 it's 6 April 2027, and over £20,000 it's April 2028. VAT registration is separate and generally applies when VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000.

No. Vibe Books supports MTD for Income Tax record-keeping and submissions. It does not currently support VAT returns or MTD for VAT. If you are VAT registered, or close to the VAT registration threshold, you may need separate VAT software or advice from an accountant.

The UK VAT registration threshold is £90,000 of rolling 12-month VAT-taxable turnover. If you cross it you must register for VAT with HMRC within 30 days. Because Vibe Books supports MTD for Income Tax only — not VAT or MTD for VAT — we display a heads-up on your dashboard as recorded income for each income source (when viewing This business) approaches the threshold — we do not use the combined total from All businesses, because VAT is assessed per registration/source, not as a simple sum across unrelated trades. The figure we use is tax-year booked income, which is an approximation: some income types are VAT-exempt, and the actual VAT trigger is rolling 12 months not the tax year. The on-screen warning is to prompt you to check the rules with HMRC or your accountant; it isn't an authoritative trigger. See HMRC VAT registration guidance.

Open the app on any device, tap Scan Receipt, and point your camera at a paper or on-screen receipt. Claude AI reads the image and automatically extracts the vendor name, date, amount, and the most likely expense category — all fields are pre-filled for you to review and save in one tap. No typing, no manual entry. The feature is included on every plan, including Free, and works on iOS, Android, and desktop browsers via file upload.

Vibe Books handles digital record-keeping, quarterly submissions and the Final Declaration — the MTD compliance part. You can still use an accountant for complex tax planning or to review your figures before you submit. You can export your books to Excel, CSV, or PDF (Solo, Duo, and Pro) any time to share with them.

They are summaries of your income and expenses sent to HMRC four times a year. They are not your full year-end return. Under MTD for Income Tax, year-end is completed with a Final Declaration — that is the fifth submission in the MTD flow, not a separate Self Assessment filing outside the software.

We're applying to appear on HMRC's official list of software compatible with MTD for Income Tax. You can use Vibe Books for full record-keeping now, and in sandbox/test mode with HMRC. Higher earners (£50k+) must use MTD-compatible software from 6 April 2026 — we're working toward recognition in time for that cohort. £30k+ earners follow from April 2027; we aim to be recognised ahead of that date too. If you're in scope and need software HMRC already lists today, use HMRC's compatible software guidance to choose a product that fits your situation. Contact us if you're unsure how Vibe Books fits alongside other tools.

Not in your first year! For 2026/27, HMRC has a "soft landing" — you won't get penalty points for late quarterly updates. It's the perfect time to get used to the new rhythm without the stress of fines.

The soft landing doesn't apply to your Final Declaration. Missing this will still result in a penalty point, so we recommend using our automated reminders to stay on track.

Points below the threshold drop off automatically after 24 months. If you have reached the threshold, you clear your record by submitting on time for 12 months and filing anything still outstanding from the previous 24 months. Vibe Books tracks your deadlines so you are less likely to reach the £200 "threshold" fine in the first place.

Absolutely. Upgrade, downgrade, or cancel from your account settings at any time. If you cancel a paid plan, you keep access until the end of the billing period, then revert to the free plan.

Yes. Your data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest. We never sell your data to third parties. You can export everything as JSON, Excel, or CSV at any time, and request full deletion when closing your account.