In short
We use primary sources, link to them, date every guide, never guess, explain rather than advise, and correct mistakes openly. Commercial relationships never decide what we write.
Our sources
- Rules and deadlines come from GOV.UK and HMRC guidance, and from legislation where needed. We link to the exact page, not a homepage.
- Software is checked against HMRC’s software finder on a stated date, and against the provider’s own website.
- Other topics, such as the Deposit Return Scheme or van grants, come from the responsible government department or official scheme body.
- News goes back to the original announcement or document wherever possible.
- Every article ends with a Sources list, with the date we checked.
How we check
- We check every rule, figure, date and threshold against a primary source before publishing, and again when we update.
- If we can’t verify something, we leave it out. We don’t estimate fines, prices or dates.
- When we apply a published GOV.UK rule to a specific year, we say so.
- Examples are clearly labelled as illustrative. They aren’t real people or real figures.
How we describe software
- We say whether a product is on HMRC’s software finder and the date we checked, for example “On HMRC’s list (checked 19 October 2026)”.
- We never say a product is “HMRC approved”, “HMRC recommended” or “officially endorsed”. HMRC does not recommend any product or provider.
- Prices change. Any price we show includes the date we checked it and a link to the provider.
- Our comparisons are framed around what you need, never “you should buy”.
Explaining, not advising
We explain how rules, processes and software work. We don’t tell readers what they personally owe, whether they’re exempt or what they should claim. Every guide has a “not advice” box near the top and points to GOV.UK, HMRC or an accountant. Read more on our Not advice page.
Keeping guides up to date
- Every guide shows a “Last checked” date near the top.
- GOV.UK guidance changes often, so we recheck our Making Tax Digital guides regularly and whenever HMRC updates its guidance.
- Significant updates are noted on the page, so you can see what changed and when.
Corrections
If we get something wrong, we want to know. Tell us through our contact page, with the page and the detail you think is wrong. When we confirm an error that changes the meaning of a guide, such as a rule, date, figure or software status, we fix it and add a dated note. Typos are fixed without a note. All significant corrections are listed on our corrections page.
Independence and money
- We may earn money from affiliate links, sponsorship and advertising. This never decides what we include, how we explain it or a product’s HMRC list status. See How we make money and affiliate disclosure.
- Affiliate links are always disclosed on the page, next to the links.
- Sponsored content is always clearly labelled. Sponsors don’t see or approve our editorial guides before publication.
- Our Making Tax Digital exemptions guide stays free of commercial links.
How we use tools, including AI
We use software tools, including AI tools, to help with research and drafting. Before an article is published, the editor checks it line by line against the sources we list.
Who writes for us
Articles are written and checked by our editor, Aidan Thorne, and bylined “Aidan Thorne, Editor”. See our About page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a mistake?
Use our contact page. Tell us the page and the detail, and we’ll check it against the source.
Do software companies pay to be included?
No. Inclusion and HMRC list status are never for sale. If we earn a commission from a link, we say so in a note at the top of the article and label the link (Ad).
How often do you update your MTD guides?
We recheck them regularly and whenever GOV.UK changes, and each guide shows the date we last checked it.