For many bookkeepers, February arrives with a mix of relief and restlessness.

The deadlines of Self-Assessment season have passed. The inbox is a little calmer. And yet, questions start to surface. Which parts of January felt comfortable? Which conversations didn’t? Which clients pushed you just outside your confidence zone?

It is often in this quieter space that bigger professional decisions begin to take shape.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax may still feel some way off, but it is no longer abstract. The direction is clear, the dates are set, and the way bookkeepers support clients is going to change in very practical ways over the coming years.

From April 2026, sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 will be required to comply with MTD for Income Tax. That threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027, and again to £20,000 in April 2028. Each step brings a much wider group of clients into quarterly reporting, many of whom have never dealt with anything beyond an annual return.

For bookkeepers, the question is not whether this will affect your work. It is how prepared you want to feel when it does.

When bookkeeping and tax start to overlap

For years, many bookkeepers have drawn a clear line. The records are maintained, the figures are accurate, and Self-Assessment sits just beyond their service offering.

MTD begins to blur that boundary.

Quarterly submissions mean bookkeepers are closer to the numbers than ever before. You are already maintaining the records, spotting issues as they arise, and talking to clients regularly about how their business is performing. Much of the work that underpins the tax return is already happening throughout the year.

For some, this naturally prompts reflection. If you are already this close to the figures, does it still make sense for the final stage to sit elsewhere? Not just financially, but practically and professionally.

Clients facing more frequent reporting will value clarity and continuity. Having one trusted point of contact can make a significant difference at a time when change may feel unsettling. For bookkeepers, keeping work aligned can also reduce friction, miscommunication, and duplication.

None of this means every bookkeeper must offer Self-Assessment. But it does mean that the decision deserves thoughtful consideration, rather than being left until pressure forces it.

 Confidence is built, not assumed

One of the most common concerns bookkeepers raise around tax is confidence.

That hesitation rarely comes from a lack of capability. More often, it comes from how tax is taught. Abstract rules, disconnected examples, and learning that feels far removed from real client work.

Confidence grows differently. It is built through understanding how rules apply in context, seeing patterns emerge across clients, and knowing where the boundaries of your service sit.

Preparing early creates space for that confidence to develop properly. It allows time to decide which clients you want to support, how Self-Assessment fits within your practice, and what a manageable service offering looks like for you.

Left too late, those decisions are often made under pressure. Training becomes reactive rather than strategic. February, by contrast, offers breathing room.

Learning as professional scaffolding

At Ideal Schools, Self-Assessment is taught by tutors who run their own practices and work with clients every day. They understand the questions bookkeepers ask, the less straightforward, real-world cases that cause uncertainty, and the reality of balancing technical accuracy with client relationships.

The ICB Self-Assessment Taxation course is designed to support working bookkeepers, not overwhelm them. It is not about turning bookkeepers into accountants. It is about providing the knowledge and structure needed to competently and ethically offer Self-Assessment as part of an existing service, where it makes sense to do so.

Learning is treated as scaffolding. Something that supports decision-making, builds professional confidence, and strengthens judgement over time. Students are supported throughout their studies and have access to tutors who can explain not just what the answer is, but why it matters in practice.

As expectations on bookkeepers continue to grow under MTD, that kind of grounded, applied learning becomes increasingly important.

Why February matters

February is often underestimated. It sits just far enough away from deadlines to allow clear thinking, yet close enough to upcoming change for preparation to feel purposeful.

For bookkeepers already studying, or considering their next step, Ideal Schools is offering the ICB Level 4 Self-Assessment Taxation course free when enrolling on ICB Levels 2 and 3 during February. It is an opportunity to build skills steadily, without pressure, while laying strong foundations for the changes ahead.

Looking ahead with clarity

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is not simply a compliance exercise. It represents a shift in how clients engage with their finances and how often they will need informed professional support.

Bookkeepers who take time now to reflect, prepare, and build confidence are far better placed to guide clients through that transition calmly and competently.

Whether you are already offering Self-Assessment, currently training, or quietly considering what your next step might be, preparation now creates options later. If you would like to discuss your professional goals with one of our expert tutors and advisors, please request a callback.

At Ideal Schools, the focus has always been on depth, consistency, and long-term support. As the profession evolves, those qualities matter more than ever.