Xero vs QuickBooks for Making Tax Digital
Both are recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Here is what each one supports today, according to HMRC's own software finder, and what each costs on its own pricing page — all checked on 9 October 2026. No opinions, no star ratings: just the differences that matter for your situation.
The short answer
Choose Xero if…
- you have foreign rental income — Xero handles it today; QuickBooks lists it as not included
Choose QuickBooks if…
- you need to report a salary (PAYE), dividends, State Pension, private pensions, foreign dividends and 6 more in your tax return — QuickBooks supports them now; Xero lists them as in development
- you would like HMRC Assist, which helps spot possible mistakes before you submit
Not sure either fits?
Our 2-minute check compares every HMRC-recognised product with your exact income — salary, dividends, foreign property included.
At a glance
| Xero | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | No | No |
| Paid plans from | £18/month + VAT · Ignite | £10/month, VAT not stated · Sole Trader Plus |
| Free trial | One month free | Free for 30 days (not combinable with discount) |
| Keeps digital records | Ready now | Ready now |
| Bridging (spreadsheets) | Not included | Not included |
| Final tax return | Yes | Yes |
| Sole trader income | Ready now | Ready now |
| UK property income | Ready now | Ready now |
| Foreign property income | Ready now | Not included |
| MTD for VAT | Ready now | Ready now |
| Agent software (for your accountant) | Ready now | Ready now |
| Other income items ready now | 4 of 16 | 15 of 16 |
| Other income items in development | 12 of 16 | 0 of 16 |
| Accessibility features | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 |
Every HMRC-listed feature, side by side
HMRC lists the same features for every recognised product. Xero and QuickBooks differ on 14 of them (highlighted). “In development” means the provider has committed to HMRC to build it in time for the 2026 to 2027 tax return.
| Feature | Xero | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| What it can send to HMRC | ||
| Quarterly updates | Yes | Yes |
| Tax return | Yes | Yes |
| Features provided | ||
| Free version | Not included | Not included |
| Agent software | Ready now | Ready now |
| Individual software | Ready now | Ready now |
| Standard update period (6 April to 5 April) | Ready now | Ready now |
| Calendar update period (1 April to 31 March) | Ready now | Ready now |
| Software that creates digital records | Ready now | Ready now |
| Bridging software that connects to records | Not included | Not included |
| Making Tax Digital for VAT | Ready now | Ready now |
| Blindness or impaired vision | Not included | Not included |
| Deafness or impaired hearing | Not included | Not included |
| Motor or physical difficulties | Not included | Not included |
| Cognitive impairments | Not included | Not included |
| HMRC Assist (Submission Feedback) | Not included | Ready now |
| Business income sources | ||
| Sole trader | Ready now | Ready now |
| UK property | Ready now | Ready now |
| Foreign property | Ready now | Not included |
| Other income sources and items | ||
| UK interest | Ready now | Ready now |
| Employment (PAYE) | In development | Ready now |
| UK dividends | In development | Ready now |
| State Pension income | In development | Ready now |
| Private pension incomes | In development | Ready now |
| Partner income from a partnership | In development | Not included |
| Foreign dividends | In development | Ready now |
| Foreign interest | Ready now | Ready now |
| Private pension contributions | Ready now | Ready now |
| Construction Industry Scheme | In development | Ready now |
| Charitable giving | Ready now | Ready now |
| Capital Gains | In development | Ready now |
| Student Loan | In development | Ready now |
| Marriage Allowance | In development | Ready now |
| Voluntary Class 2 National Insurance | In development | Ready now |
| High Income Child Benefit Charge | In development | Ready now |
Prices
Xero
| Ignite | £18/month + VATPromo new UK customers: 90% off first 6 months (£1.80) |
|---|---|
| Grow | £39/month + VATPromo £3.90 first 6 months |
| Comprehensive | £55/month + VATPromo £5.50 first 6 months |
| Ultimate | £70/month + VATPromo £7 first 6 months |
Trial: One month free
Checked on 9 October 2026 on Xero’s pricing page. Promotions change often.
QuickBooks
| Sole Trader Plus | £10/month |
|---|
Trial: Free for 30 days (not combinable with discount)
Some details on this pricing page were unclear (for example whether VAT is included or which plans include MTD): check on the provider's site.
Checked on 9 October 2026 on QuickBooks’ pricing page. Promotions change often.
Sources: HMRC software finder for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (Open Government Licence v3.0) — Xero and QuickBooks (Intuit), checked 9 October 2026; providers' pricing pages as linked above. HMRC does not recommend any product. Clarpilot compares on these data only: commissions never change what we show.