Editorial Policy
SoleTraderGuide is committed to producing accurate, independent, and useful content for UK sole traders. This policy explains how we research, write, and maintain that content.
Our Independence
SoleTraderGuide operates independently of all software providers, accountancy firms, and government bodies. No external party has editorial control over our content. Software providers cannot pay to appear in our reviews, improve their ratings, or influence the content of our guides.
We do have affiliate relationships with some providers — meaning we may earn a commission if a reader purchases software through our links. However, these relationships are disclosed transparently, and they have no influence on the ratings or recommendations we produce. Our editorial team and commercial relationships operate with a strict separation.
How We Research and Test
When reviewing MTD-compatible software, we evaluate each product against a consistent set of criteria. We use each product hands-on where possible, review the provider's official documentation, assess pricing across all plans, and analyse user feedback from UK-based reviews where reliable data is available.
For factual content about MTD rules and HMRC requirements, we rely primarily on official HMRC guidance, HMRC consultation documents, and verified reporting from specialist UK accountancy press (including AccountingWeb and ICAEW communications). We do not rely on press releases from software providers to describe their own products without independent verification.
How We Keep Content Up to Date
MTD rules, software pricing, and features change regularly. We review all major content pages on a quarterly basis and update them when changes occur. Significant changes — such as new HMRC announcements on thresholds or deadlines — trigger an immediate review of all affected pages.
All pages display a “Last updated” date so readers can judge the freshness of the information. When substantive changes are made to a page, we note what was changed and when at the bottom of the page.
Our Rating System
Software products are assessed against five weighted criteria:
| Criterion | Weight | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| MTD Compatibility | 30% | HMRC recognition, quarterly update submission, EOPS support |
| Ease of Use | 25% | Onboarding, interface clarity, mobile app quality |
| Value for Money | 20% | Pricing relative to features, sole trader plan availability |
| Features | 15% | Bank feeds, invoicing, Self Assessment support, integrations |
| Customer Support | 10% | UK support availability, response quality, help resources |
Scores for each criterion are assigned on a 1–5 scale. The weighted total produces an overall score out of 5, which is displayed on each review page. For a full breakdown of our methodology, see our sources and methodology page.
Sources We Use
We rely on the following primary sources for factual content:
- HMRC's official Making Tax Digital guidance on gov.uk
- HMRC consultation documents and policy papers
- HMRC's approved software supplier list
- Official provider documentation and help centres
- AccountingWeb (UK accountancy trade press)
- ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) MTD resources
- ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) guidance
Corrections Policy
We are committed to accuracy. If you believe any content on SoleTraderGuide contains an error — factual, computational, or otherwise — please contact us at editorial@soletraderguide.co.uk. Please include the URL of the page, the specific error you have identified, and your suggested correction.
We aim to investigate and respond within 5 working days. If an error is confirmed, we will correct it promptly and note the correction on the page.
Commercial Relationships
SoleTraderGuide has affiliate relationships with some of the software providers featured on this site. When you click a “Visit [Provider]” button or similar affiliate link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. This commission comes at no extra cost to you.
Our editorial ratings, comparison rankings, and content recommendations are produced independently of these commercial arrangements. Providers with affiliate relationships are not rated more favourably, and providers without such relationships are not disadvantaged.
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