Which DIY Accounting package should I choose?
Choose the package that matches how your business is set up. A sole trader without VAT or staff uses Basic Sole Trader. A self employed person with VAT or staff uses Self Employed. A taxi or private hire driver uses Taxi Driver. A limited company uses Company Accounts. An employer who only needs payslips uses Payslip.
Sole traders
The Basic Sole Trader package is for sole traders who are not VAT registered and have no employees. The Self Employed package is for anyone self employed, VAT registered or not, with or without employees. It also holds the VAT returns, the bank reconciliation and payslips.
The VAT line decides most choices. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000.[1] You can also choose to register below that figure.[2] Once you are registered, Self Employed is the package that holds your VAT returns.
Taxi and private hire drivers
The Taxi Driver package is for self-employed taxi drivers, private hire drivers, van drivers and couriers. It compares the mileage allowance with your actual vehicle costs and selects the most tax-efficient method for your expenses claim.
Limited companies
The Company Accounts package uses double-entry bookkeeping. It produces VAT returns, a profit and loss account, a balance sheet, year-end accounts and the corporation tax figures for the CT600. The package comes in a version for each company year-end month.
A company files its return with commercial software. HMRC's online service for company accounts and the Company Tax Return closed on 31 March 2026.[3] Read more in tax accounting software and the company tax return.
Employers
The Payslip 05 package prints payslips for 5 or 10 staff, for use beside a separate tax calculator such as HMRC's Basic PAYE Tools. The Self Employed and Company packages include their own payslip workbooks.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to qualifying income over £50,000 from 6 April 2026, over £30,000 from 6 April 2027 and over £20,000 from 6 April 2028.[4] The sole trader packages keep the records and total the figures. They do not send an update to HMRC. Read what a cumulative quarterly update is before you plan around it.
Is this year's package ready?
Each download is one accounting period. The download page lists the periods that are published, so if your year end is listed, the package exists. On 13 November 2026 it listed April 2025, April 2026 and April 2027 for the sole trader packages. See how to download your spreadsheet again for the steps.
Filing from the spreadsheet
DIY Accounting Submit files VAT returns from the figures in your spreadsheet, and company accounts and the confirmation statement. See what DIY Accounting Submit can file, and the steps for a VAT return from a spreadsheet.
Article generated by Claude Code for DIY Accounting, November 2026. All information sourced from GOV.UK and HMRC guidance linked inline.
Tax reference: choosing a package – Source: GOV.UK: Register for VAT: When to register; GOV.UK: Find out if and when you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; GOV.UK: Closure of the service to file your company accounts and tax return
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