Coming Soon: Quarterly Digital Tax for Musicians
From April 2026, self-employed musicians earning over £50,000 will need to submit quarterly updates to HMRC using approved software. This page explains what to do and how to get ready.
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Log income and expenses digitally - no manual data entry.
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Use HMRC-approved software or spreadsheets with bridging tools.
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HMRC won’t provide their own software.
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4 updates a year (every 3 months)
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Final Declaration due by 31 Jan, replacing the SATR
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If you have multiple trades, more updates required
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From 2026: £50K+ income
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From 2027: £30K+
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From 2028: £20K+
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Compliance required from 3rd tax year after passing the threshold.
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How does Musicians' Tax Advisor relate to Orpheus Accounting Ltd?Orpheus Accounting Ltd is our full service accountancy and tax practice for engaged clients. We use Musicians' Tax Advisor as the education and community part of our business. We communicate with you from both domains but once you become a client of ours, you'll notice that our communications for all matters specific to your business, will come from Orpheus Accounting Ltd.
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Can I rely on your advice?Yes, we are licenced and regulated tax advisors. We are answerable to our membership bodies for the quality of our service and hold indemnity insurance with reputable providers. If for any reason, we believe we not best placed to give you advice on your particular circumstance – we will say so and explain why.
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What if I am not happy with the advice you give?In the first instance we would always ask that you take up your complaint with us – we will do our best to resolve it quickly and satisfactorily. If you are still not satisfied, you are requested to contact our licencing bodies, per our terms and conditions
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What areas of tax do you not give advice on?We don’t give you advice on tax credits, benefits or council tax. If you have a query about one of these taxes you may well find you can access support via the following links: TaxAid - help with a tax problem if HMRC can't sort it out Home Page - Tax Help for Older People (taxvol.org.uk) Low Incomes Tax Reform Group | A voice for the unrepresented (litrg.org.uk)
CHALLENGES
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Software learning curve
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Ongoing admin (quarterly vs yearly)
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Potential added costs
BENEFITS
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Know your tax bill in real-time
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Less chance of error
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Easier long-term compliance
Preparation Checklist
