QuickBooks pricing UK: every plan and what you need for MTD (October 2026)
We read every price on QuickBooks's own UK pricing page on 9 October 2026, then checked what QuickBooks does for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in HMRC's software list. No estimates: where the page is unclear, we say so.
All QuickBooks plans and prices
| Plan | Price a month | First 6 months | First 12 months* | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Trader PlusSole traders and landlords who are not VAT registered | £10 | £1 | £66 | 1 user plus your accountant · MTD for Income Tax ready · Prepare for Self Assessment · Invoices, estimates, receipts, mileage · No direct VAT submission · No payroll add-on |
| Simple StartVAT-registered sole traders and small businesses | £16 | £1.60 | £105.60 | 1 user plus your accountant · Submit VAT returns to HMRC · MTD for Income Tax ready · Payroll available as an add-on |
| EssentialsBusinesses with bills and a small team | £38 | £3.80 | £250.80 | 3 users · Manage bills · Recurring invoices · Multiple currencies |
| PlusBusinesses tracking projects or stock | £56 | £5.60 | £369.60 | 5 users · Projects and profitability · Inventory, purchase and sales orders · Budgeting |
| AdvancedLarger businesses | £123 | £12.30 | £811.80 | 25 users · Custom reports and forecasting · Backup and restore · Premium support |
* Cheapest way to pay for a new customer over the first 12 months, with the introductory offer (90% off for 6 months). The pricing page does not say whether these prices include VAT. Charged monthly until you cancel. You can cancel at any time with no fee; the cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing month, with no pro-rata refund. New QuickBooks Online customers choosing Buy Now. You cannot have the 30-day free trial as well. Free trial: 30 days free, as an alternative to the discount.
Do you need MTD software yet?
Answer a few questions to get your start date, every deadline for your calendar, and the products that handle your whole tax return.
Which QuickBooks plan do you need for Making Tax Digital?
Sole trader or landlord, not VAT registered
Sole Trader Plus
It is listed as MTD for Income Tax ready and prepares your Self Assessment. It cannot submit VAT returns.
VAT registered
Simple Start
Direct VAT submission to HMRC is not available on Sole Trader Plus.
You pay staff
Simple Start + payroll
Payroll add-ons work with Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced, not with Sole Trader Plus.
Landlord with overseas property
Check before buying
HMRC lists foreign property income as not included for QuickBooks.
Extras that change the bill
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Payroll Core | £5 a month + £1.50 per employee a month |
| Payroll Premium | £10 a month + £2 per employee a month |
| Payroll Elite | £15 a month + £3 per employee a month |
What QuickBooks supports for MTD, according to HMRC
| Quarterly updates | Yes |
|---|---|
| Final tax return | Yes |
| Self-employment income | Ready now |
| UK property income | Ready now |
| Foreign property income | Not included |
| Other tax return items ready now | 15 of 16 (salary, dividends, pensions, capital gains…) |
| MTD for VAT | Ready now |
| Free version listed by HMRC | No |
Full QuickBooks profile: all 32 HMRC features
Cheaper options for MTD than QuickBooks
Products recognised by HMRC that keep your digital records and send the final tax return, and that are free or start below £10 a month on their own pricing pages. Check that each one covers your income: some handle only self-employment or only property.
| Software | From | Self-employment | UK property | Foreign property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Clear Books | Free option £5/month + VATFree plans: unlimited transactions, no bank feeds/invoicing | Ready now | Ready now | Ready now |
 Pandle | Free option £5/month + VAT | Ready now | Ready now | Not included |
 Sage Sole Trader & Landlord | Free option £7/month + VAT25 auto-categorised transactions, 1 bank account, 5 sales invoices a month | Ready now | Ready now | Not included |
 Keepr | Free option £9/month, VAT not statedUnlimited clients, invoices, expenses | Ready now | Not included | Not included |
 Monzo | Free option £9/month, VAT not statedRequires a Monzo Business account | Ready now | Ready now | Not included |
 FreeAgent | Free option £10/month + VATFree only through partner bank accounts (NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Mettle) | Ready now | Ready now | Not included |
 Crunch | Free option £10/month + VAT | Ready now | Not included | Not included |
| Free option £12/month + VAT1 user + 1 accountant; up to 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses a year; 50 receipt autoscans a month | Ready now | Ready now | Not included |
Cheaper alternatives to Xero and QuickBooks · Free MTD software · Filter all 158 products
Good to know
- The pricing page does not say whether prices include VAT: check the total at checkout.
- Payroll discounts apply to the monthly base price for 6 months; per-employee charges are listed separately.
Questions about QuickBooks pricing
How much is QuickBooks a month in the UK?
From £10 a month for Sole Trader Plus, then £16 for Simple Start, £38 for Essentials, £56 for Plus and £123 for Advanced. New customers can get 90% off for 6 months instead of the 30-day free trial.
Which QuickBooks plan do I need for Making Tax Digital?
All five plans are listed as MTD for Income Tax ready. Sole Trader Plus is the cheapest; if you are VAT registered you need Simple Start or above, because Sole Trader Plus cannot submit VAT returns.
Does QuickBooks include payroll?
No. Payroll is an add-on from £5 a month plus £1.50 per employee, and it is available with Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced.
Can I cancel QuickBooks at any time?
Yes, with no cancellation fee. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your monthly billing period and there is no pro-rata refund.
Prices checked on 9 October 2026 on QuickBooks UK plans and pricing (prices, offer terms, VAT and payroll notes). MTD features: HMRC software finder, QuickBooks (Intuit) (Open Government Licence v3.0), checked 9 October 2026. Prices and offers change often: check the provider's page before you buy. Clarpilot is independent; commissions never change what we show.