Professional services & education
MTD software for dance teachers.
Teach the next step. Simplify the admin.
Term fees, private lessons and studio hire can create a busy set of books before a performance is even planned. Avona helps independent dance teachers keep income and spending organised.
- Who it is for
- Dance teachers working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
Group-class fees and one-to-one lessons may arrive in termly and weekly payments. Record each business receipt, including workshop income, rather than relying on attendance totals alone.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your dance classes.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your dance classes, shared purchases and a prepaid dance term.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £330 for your dance classes £85 spent on studio hire and teaching resources | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for studio hire and teaching resources. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £330 as the sale and the £85 cost separately. The £245 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for props for paying students' classes; £20 for supplies for a family event | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify props for paying students' classes separately from supplies for a family event. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £240 paid for a block of sessions Payment received before all sessions take place | Keep the booking and payment evidence for a prepaid dance term. Reconcile the receipt with the bank entry and retain any later refund details. | A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid. |
Keep supporting documents alongside your figures, review business use and apply your accounting method consistently. HMRC: keeping business records ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for dance teachers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Studio hire
Teaching music subscriptions
Business insurance
Booking software
Business advertising
Teaching equipment
One thing to watch
Separate performance costumes from everyday clothing
Specialist performance costumes may be treated differently from ordinary clothes worn to teach. Keep itemised receipts and check eligibility instead of claiming every clothing purchase linked to a class.
HMRC: clothing expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your dance classes.
Bring term-payment records and private-lesson receipts together, then check studio bills and other teaching costs before reviewing the quarter.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for studio hire and teaching resources. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish props for paying students' classes from supplies for a family event.
How document capture works →Reconcile your dance classes payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a prepaid dance term available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
How bank review works →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your dance classes income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a prepaid dance term ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from dance teachers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers dance teachers working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
Does a class register show the income I should record?
It shows attendance, not necessarily payment. Keep the actual fee receipts and any refunds alongside the register so missed sessions, discounts and unpaid fees can be explained.
How do I record a prepaid dance term?
Example: £240 paid for a block of sessions (payment received before all sessions take place). A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Separate performance costumes from everyday clothing. Specialist performance costumes may be treated differently from ordinary clothes worn to teach. Keep itemised receipts and check eligibility instead of claiming every clothing purchase linked to a class.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your dance classes income records and evidence of studio hire and teaching resources into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development for Avona. Confirm support for your own income sources and circumstances before relying on Avona for the annual return.
Built for the way you earn
Find your rhythm with simpler teaching records.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.