Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is reshaping how UK accountants deliver services for their self-employed and landlord clients. With regular digital record-keeping, quarterly submissions to HMRC and increased client expectations, many accountants are facing increased demand for accounting services.

While any increase in demand is welcome, some accountants are struggling to find resources to deliver these services effectively.

This is where outsourcing work can offer a powerful strategic advantage.

Why MTD for Income Tax Is Creating Additional Pressure For Accountants

MTD IT is not just a simple compliance operation to be delivered by accountants. For affected landlords and self-employed clients, it introduces significant responsibilities for the first time, including:

Digital record-keeping
Quarterly submissions to HMRC
Mandatory MTD-compatible software
Higher volumes of data
Greater uncertainty and support needs.

For many Practices, this means more work for bookkeepers and accountants, and investment in enhanced IT systems, workflows, and support functions. Hiring additional resources to cope with this additional work may seem logical, but it’s rarely the most efficient solution and can create additional risks.

Additional costs and risks of hiring resources

In a hot recruitment market and with increasing costs of employment, taking on new staff can create additional risks for any accountant. For smaller Practices without dedicated HR teams, managing recruitment, performance reviews, payroll, leave, and employee disputes can be a major drain on time.

Recruiting new staff is expensive and time-consuming. Specialist recruitment fees can reach up to 25% of a new employee’s salary, with onboarding costs adding further strain. The elapsed time between advertising a role and filling it with a suitable candidate can be protracted, creating backlogs of work before a post is filled. When appointed, new staff require onboarding and investment in continuing professional development. In-house employees also come with pensions, paid holidays, and other benefits that can exceed 20% of base salary.

As MTD IT client numbers grow, these factors can quickly affect the efficient operation of a Practice.

Outsourcing: A Smarter Way to Deliver MTD IT

Outsourcing allows accountants to deliver MTD IT services without the risk and expense of recruitment while securing many advantages.

1. Instant Access to MTD IT Expertise

Outsourcing provides specialists in bookkeeping and accounting who are fully trained and understand:

HMRC MTD IT requirements
How to operate MTD-compatible software and bridging tools
API integrations and digital record keeping
UK data security and compliance standards.

Outsourcing opens the door to expertise worldwide, bridging skills gaps quickly without long training periods. Accountants can leverage digital bookkeeping, personal tax calculations, and efficient accounts preparation while client-facing staff deliver personalised services.

2. Scalable Support

MTD IT work is recurring and predictable by nature. By outsourcing, accountants can:

Scale support up when deadlines are looming
Scale down during quieter periods
Pay only for the work required.

Outsourcing converts the rising costs of employment into predictable, fixed expenses, helping accountants plan cash flow with confidence.

3. Reduced Operational Costs

Compared to employing in-house staff, outsourcing typically offers:

Fixed monthly or pay as you go pricing
No recruitment fees or employment overheads
Clear budgeting and cost control.

Outsourcing provides access to highly skilled accountants at typically 50% lower costs than UK rates. This means accountants can improve productivity and service quality without inflating their payroll.

4. Better Client Experience

Some clients will remain resistant to their new MTD IT responsibilities and are hard to reach by nature. These clients will need additional support with:

Software setup and onboarding
Maintaining digital records
Correcting submission errors
Understanding quarterly reporting obligations.

Outsourced helpdesks and support teams ensure faster responses, smoother processes a better client experience overall.

5. Accountants Stay Focused on Advisory Work

When MTD IT workflows are handled externally, the onshore team can focus on:

Client advice
Tax planning
Business growth.

Outsourcing routine tasks such as bookkeeping and quarterly submissions allows in-house accountants to focus on supporting clients. This reduces stress, prevents burnout, and increases job satisfaction. Outsourcing also offers a cost-effective way for accountants to communicate with clients while making the best use of any direct, human contact needed.

MTD IT Services to Outsource

Accountants usually seek to outsource recurring bookkeeping and accounting work, including:

Monthly digital bookkeeping and transaction processing
Bank reconciliations
Quarterly MTD IT submissions
Data validation and correction of errors
Year-end accounts for sole traders and landlords
Preparation of personal tax returns.

Benefits of Outsourcing MTD IT Work

Outsourcing MTD IT work to Unison Globus offers many benefits to UK accountants through:

Helping clients comply with HMRC requirements.
Reduced risk of penalties for late/missing submissions
Reduced costs and overheads
Access to talent and resources
Increased quality and consistency of work
Better turnaround times
improved client experience
Data security assurance.

Free trial offer

If you want to learn more about how outsourcing can simplify MTD IT, explore our Making Tax Digital for Income Tax hub and book a free 10-hour trial with Unison Globus UK. We promise to turn your trial work around within 72 hours. You can book a video call with a Unison Globus expert advisors using this link or send an email to [email protected].