MTD for iPhone/iPad – What You Need to Know
An in-depth look at MTD for iPhone/iPad — features, strengths, limitations, and who it's best for.
At a Glance
Key facts about MTD for iPhone/iPad at a glance.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Software Type | Bridging App (spreadsheet to HMRC) |
| Target Users | Apple users keeping spreadsheet records |
| Income Sources Supported | UK Property, Foreign Property, Self-Employment |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free for 2025–26 tax year (testing); ~£30–£40/year from 2026–27 |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | No |
| Automated Bank Feeds | No |
| Invoice Creation | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | No |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | No |
| Property Portfolio Management | No |
| Tenant Management | No |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | No |
| Payroll | No |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes |
| Platform | iPhone, iPad (Apple only) |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
What Is MTD for iPhone/iPad?
What Is MTD for iPhone/iPad?
MTD for iPhone/iPad is a bridging app built by Dappological Ltd. and available on the Apple App Store. It is HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and is listed on HMRC's Software Choices page under both its macOS and iOS product entries. The app was built with a clear, singular purpose: to let people who already keep their accounts in spreadsheets — whether on Apple Numbers, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or OpenDocument — submit their MTD quarterly updates and final declaration to HMRC directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, without needing to change anything about their existing records.
The bridging workflow is straightforward. You keep your existing spreadsheet exactly as it is on whatever computer you use, including Windows. You map your income and expense totals to the relevant HMRC categories once in the app. Each quarter, you import those totals — via a QR code scan for Windows spreadsheets, or via a direct link for Apple devices — and submit to HMRC with a tap. The app communicates directly with HMRC's APIs; Dappological Ltd. does not run an intermediate server or store any client data.
Strengths
- HMRC-recognised bridging app — live and submitting
- Keep your existing spreadsheet untouched — no workflow change
- Works with Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets, and OpenDocument
- Windows spreadsheets supported via QR code scan workflow
- Free for 2025–26 tax year; ~£30–£40/year from 2026–27
- No intermediate server — data goes directly to HMRC
- Multi-client agent support built in
- 5.0 stars on UK App Store (4 ratings, April 2026)
- Mac, iPhone, and iPad all supported natively
- Built by Dappological Ltd. — proven MTD VAT app track record
Limitations
- Apple devices only — no Android, no web browser
- No digital record-keeping, bank feeds, or bookkeeping
- No property management, tenancy, or compliance features
- No invoicing or expense categorisation
- Very new app — limited public review history
Making Tax Digital Compliance
How MTD for iPhone/iPad Handles MTD Compliance
MTD for iPhone/iPad is bridging software. It does not create your digital records — you do that in your own spreadsheet, exactly as you do today. The app's role is to read your summary income and expense totals from your spreadsheet and transmit them to HMRC in the correct MTD format. Updates are cumulative — if you revise your figures mid-year, simply submit again and the latest totals replace the previous ones. The app supports self-employment, UK property, and foreign property income for quarterly updates. Foreign property is currently reported per country in line with HMRC's current requirements, with per-property reporting planned by HMRC in future. The final declaration allows for other income sources such as employment, dividends, and savings to be added before year-end submission.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes |
| Digital Record Keeping | No |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes |
| UK Property Income | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes |
Property Management
MTD for iPhone/iPad: No Property Management Features
The mtd.tax app does not offer any property management functionality. There are no property records, no tenancy management, no rent tracking, no compliance reminders, and no maintenance logging. The app is a submission tool only. For landlords who want to keep their property admin in a spreadsheet and simply need a compliant way to submit those totals to HMRC, this is by design. For landlords who want a single platform covering both property management and MTD compliance, it is not the right tool.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | No |
| Tenant Management | No |
| Rent Tracking | No |
| Property Expense Allocation | No |
| Multiple Property Support | No |
| HMO Property Support | No |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | No |
| Maintenance Tracking | No |
| Tenant Screening | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No |
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Digital Record Keeping
MTD for iPhone/iPad: Bridging Your Existing Spreadsheet to HMRC
MTD for iPhone/iPad takes a deliberately minimal approach to bookkeeping. You keep your financial records exactly as you do today — in Apple Numbers, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or an OpenDocument spreadsheet. The app reads your income and expense totals (not individual transactions) and submits the summary figures to HMRC. You map your spreadsheet columns to the correct HMRC categories once, and reuse that mapping every quarter. Free starter templates are available for landlords and the self-employed from the mtd.tax website to simplify the mapping process. The app does not check your figures, categorise transactions, or offer any bookkeeping functionality — those responsibilities remain entirely with the user and their spreadsheet.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | No |
| Journal Entries | No |
| Bank Reconciliation | No |
| Automated Bank Feeds | No |
| Open Banking Integration | No |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | No |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes |
| Xero Integration | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | No |
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
MTD for iPhone/iPad: Totals Only — No In-App Expense Management
MTD for iPhone/iPad does not manage expenses or invoices within the app. It submits the summary totals you have already calculated in your spreadsheet. How you track, categorise, and evidence your allowable deductions is entirely up to you and your spreadsheet setup. The app also does not support CSV export of working papers, though submission data and HMRC references can be exported for agent filing records.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | No |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | No |
| Online Payment Collection | No |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | No |
| Expense Tracking | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | No |
| Expense Categorisation | No |
| Automated Transaction Matching | No |
| Mileage Tracking | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | No |
Reporting & Tax Forecasting
MTD for iPhone/iPad: HMRC Tax Estimate After Each Submission
MTD for iPhone/iPad does not produce accounting reports. After each quarterly submission, the app displays the estimated tax calculation returned by HMRC based on the figures submitted. This gives users a running indication of their likely tax position. There is no profit and loss report, balance sheet, dashboard, or financial analysis within the app — these are the responsibility of the user's spreadsheet.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | No |
| Balance Sheet | No |
| Trial Balance | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | No |
| Real-Time Financial Data | No |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | No |
Collaboration & Mobile Apps
MTD for iPhone/iPad: Apple-Only Agent Workflow
MTD for iPhone/iPad supports agent access with a client list showing per-client obligations, submission history, and HMRC references. Agents can authorise clients via HMRC's Agent Services Account or through the app's built-in authorisation request feature. Saved spreadsheet mappings per client make repeat quarterly submissions fast once set up. Agents can export submission data and HMRC references for their working papers. The app is Apple-only — agents using Android or Windows devices cannot use this app.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes |
| Bank Integration | No |
| Platform | iPhone, iPad (Apple only) |
| Web Browser Access | No |
| FCA Regulated | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
Ease of Use, Support & Security
MTD for iPhone/iPad: Ease of Use
MTD for iPhone/iPad is built by Dappological Ltd., which has a proven track record with Apple MTD software — its VAT Making Tax Digital app has been used by UK businesses for VAT submissions since the MTD for VAT rollout and holds strong ratings on the App Store. The ITSA app is newer, currently rated 5.0 out of 5 stars on the UK App Store based on 4 early reviews (as of late March 2026). Reviewers highlight its simplicity, the ease of the import workflow, and the quality of email support from the developer — specifically naming Darren Jones as highly responsive. Support is via email (info@mtd.tax). There is no phone support.
| Feature | MTD for iPhone/iPad |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | No |
| Chat Support | No |
| Email Support | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | No |
| FCA Regulated | No |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | No |
Unique Features Only MTD for iPhone/iPad (mtd.tax) Offers
Keep Your Existing Spreadsheet Untouched
This is the single most important differentiator. MTD for iPhone/iPad requires absolutely no change to how you currently keep your financial records. If you have been tracking income and expenses in Excel or Numbers for years, you continue doing exactly that. The app simply reads your totals and submits them. No migration, no re-entering data, no learning a new system.
Windows Spreadsheet QR Code Workflow
For landlords and sole traders whose main spreadsheet lives on a Windows PC, the app provides a unique QR code import workflow: the import link on Windows displays a QR code, which you scan with your iPhone or iPad to instantly pull your totals into the app for submission. This bridges the Apple-submission experience to a Windows record-keeping workflow.
Native Mac App
MTD for iPhone/iPad is available as a native macOS application (macOS 13 Ventura or later), alongside its iPhone and iPad versions. Mac users who prefer to submit from their desktop rather than a mobile device have a native, purpose-built experience — not a browser tab.
Zero Data Retention — No Intermediate Server
Dappological Ltd. does not run an intermediate server or store any data. The app communicates directly with HMRC's APIs from the user's device. For users with privacy concerns about their financial data being held in cloud platforms, this is a meaningful distinction.
Free for the 2025–26 Tax Year
The app is completely free to use for the 2025–26 tax year as part of Dappological Ltd.'s testing phase. From 2026–27, pricing is expected to be approximately £30–£40 per year — one of the lowest price points among HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA tools.
Who Should Choose MTD for iPhone/iPad (mtd.tax)?
MTD for iPhone/iPad is the better choice for:
Apple Users Who Already Keep Organised Spreadsheet Records
If you already track your rental income and expenses carefully in Excel, Numbers, or Google Sheets and simply need a compliant way to submit those figures to HMRC, MTD for iPhone/iPad offers exactly that — with zero disruption to your existing workflow.
Landlords and Sole Traders Who Want the Lowest-Cost MTD Solution
At approximately £30–£40 per year from 2026–27 (and free in 2025–26), MTD for iPhone/iPad is one of the cheapest HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA options available. For landlords or sole traders who are comfortable managing their own records and simply need the submission piece, this represents excellent value.
Mac-First Users Who Want a Native App
The mtd.tax app is available as a native macOS application for Mac users who prefer to work at their desktop. There is no equivalent native Mac app from most landlord MTD platforms.
Users Who Prioritise Data Privacy
Dappological Ltd. does not run an intermediate server or retain any data. For users who are uncomfortable with financial data being stored in cloud accounting platforms, the direct device-to-HMRC model is a meaningful distinction.
Sole Traders With Simple Records Who Are Reluctant to Change Their Workflow
For a sole trader who has been using the same Excel spreadsheet for years and is not ready to migrate to full accounting software, MTD for iPhone/iPad provides the most minimal, low-friction path to MTD compliance — without touching anything about how they currently work.