Paying £336/year for Sage? EasyTax files the same HMRC returns for £24 each.
Sage Accounting is a powerful platform — but if you are a UK sole trader, landlord, or small limited company mainly needing MTD ITSA quarterly updates and Self Assessment, you are paying for a full accounting suite you will never fully use. EasyTax covers all the same HMRC filings for £20 + VAT (£24 inc. VAT) per submission — no monthly fee, so you only pay when you actually file.
MTD ITSA is now mandatory — do you really need a £336/year accounting suite?
From 6 April 2026, every UK sole trader or landlord with income above £50,000 must file quarterly updates through MTD-compatible software. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027. Sage Accounting supports MTD ITSA — but if compliance is your main goal, EasyTax gives you the same HMRC filings at a fraction of the cost.
April 2026
MTD ITSA: £50k+
Quarterly updates mandatory for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000.
April 2027
MTD ITSA: £30k+
Threshold drops to £30,000. Around 1.4 million more taxpayers join the quarterly cycle.
Always
MTD VAT: £90k+
If you are VAT-registered above the £90,000 threshold, MTD VAT is already mandatory.
Side-by-side: Sage Accounting vs EasyTax
EasyTax
£24 / filing
Sage
£144–£336+ / year
Pricing model
Sage Accounting charges monthly; EasyTax charges £20+VAT per HMRC submission
Typical annual cost
Based on 4 quarterly MTD updates + 1 final declaration vs Sage Start/Standard plans
No card to sign up
MTD ITSA quarterly updates
Self Assessment (SA100, SA103, SA105)
MTD VAT submission
CT600 Corporation Tax filing
Limited company P&L and Balance Sheet
Open Banking auto-import
AI expense categorisation
EasyTax uses Claude AI to categorise and reconcile bank transactions
AI bank reconciliation chat
Full double-entry bookkeeping
EasyTax focuses on tax filing; Sage is a full accounting ledger
Built-in invoicing
EasyTax pairs with GrumpyWhales (free) for invoicing
Payroll
Sage Payroll available as an add-on or bundle
Stock / inventory management
Multi-currency support
Sage Accounting pricing reflects the standard and start plans as of mid-2026. We are not affiliated with Sage. Sage is a registered trademark of The Sage Group plc.
Honest tradeoffs
Where EasyTax wins
- No subscription — pay only when you file. Typical saving vs Sage: £100–£200+/year for a sole trader.
- AI bank reconciliation chat powered by Claude — categorise transactions in plain English instead of navigating a complex interface.
- Built from scratch for MTD ITSA — not a legacy desktop product moved to the cloud.
- Simple, focused interface for freelancers who just want to stay HMRC-compliant.
Where Sage wins
- Full double-entry bookkeeping and accounting ledger with multi-currency support.
- Built-in invoicing, quotes, and client management.
- Sage Payroll integration for businesses with employees.
- Stock and inventory management for product-based businesses.
- Decades-old product with a large UK accountant ecosystem.
If you have employees, manage stock, or need a full accounting ledger in the same product — Sage may justify its subscription. But if you are a freelancer, contractor, or landlord who mainly needs to stay HMRC-compliant at low cost, EasyTax is the better fit.
How to switch from Sage Accounting
- 1
Export your Sage data
In Sage Accounting: go to Reports → Export to download your transactions and reports as CSV for your records. Keep copies of all filed VAT returns and Self Assessment submissions.
- 2
Create your EasyTax account
Sign up with Google or email in under 60 seconds — no card required.
- 3
Connect your bank (Open Banking)
From the dashboard, go to Bank → Connect a bank. Pick your UK bank, authorise via Open Banking, and your transactions auto-import and get AI-categorised against HMRC allowable expenses.
- 4
Connect to HMRC
Authorise EasyTax with your HMRC Government Gateway credentials. We use the official OAuth flow — we never store your HMRC password.
- 5
File your next quarterly update or Self Assessment
EasyTax submits directly to HMRC via the official MTD ITSA and Self Assessment APIs. You get a confirmation receipt for every submission.
FAQ
How much does EasyTax cost compared to Sage?+
EasyTax charges £20 + VAT (£24 inc. VAT) per HMRC submission — no monthly subscription. A typical sole trader filing 4 quarterly MTD updates and 1 Self Assessment pays around £120/year. Sage Accounting Start costs £12/mo (£144/year) for basic features; the standard plan is £28/mo (£336/year). EasyTax saves most sole traders £24–£216/year.
I use Sage for invoicing. What do I do?+
EasyTax doesn't include built-in invoicing. We pair with GrumpyWhales — a free UK invoicing tool — for that. Many sole traders run two lightweight tools rather than one expensive all-in-one suite.
Does EasyTax support VAT returns like Sage does?+
Yes — EasyTax files MTD VAT returns directly to HMRC via the official Making Tax Digital API. It also handles CT600 Corporation Tax and Self Assessment (SA100 with SA103 and SA105 supplementary pages).
I have employees — can I use EasyTax instead of Sage?+
EasyTax does not include payroll. If you need payroll, Sage Payroll or a dedicated payroll service is the right fit. EasyTax is best for self-employed individuals and owner-managed limited companies without payroll requirements.
What about MTD ITSA — when does it apply to me?+
From 6 April 2026 if your total self-employment + property income exceeds £50,000. From 6 April 2027 if it exceeds £30,000. EasyTax is built on the HMRC MTD API for MTD ITSA quarterly updates and the final declaration.
Which UK banks does Open Banking auto-import support?+
Every major UK retail and business bank: Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest, Santander, Nationwide, Monzo, Starling, Revolut, Tide, Mettle and most others. Read-only access only — EasyTax can never move money.
Do I lose my Sage history when I cancel?+
Export all your reports and transaction CSVs from Sage before cancelling. EasyTax keeps your filing history permanently. HMRC records your submissions independently of your software.
Stop paying £336/year just to stay HMRC-compliant.
EasyTax does it for £24 a filing.
No card required. Set up in under 5 minutes.