Creative & digital
MTD software for graphic designers.
Less clutter in your books. More room for good design.
Brand projects, illustration commissions and monthly retainers each bring their own receipts. Avona helps freelance designers keep project income and creative-tool spending organised in a clear, manageable routine.
- Who it is for
- Graphic designers 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.
Retainer income and one-off project fees accumulate before subscriptions and equipment. Low overheads do not change the MTD test: gross business income is the measure.
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 brand-design commission.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your brand-design commission, shared purchases and staged payments for a brand project.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £900 for your brand-design commission £120 spent on licensed design assets | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for licensed design assets. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £900 as the sale and the £120 cost separately. The £780 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for print proofs for a client; £20 for posters for your own home | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify print proofs for a client separately from posters for your own home. | 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. |
| £200 received, then £400 £600 of agreed fees covered by the payments | Keep the supporting invoices and payment breakdown for staged payments for a brand project. Match each receipt to the work it settles during your review. | Together the receipts settle £600. Do not count the same invoice and payment twice. Keep unpaid balances and any credits identifiable, and follow your accounting method for when income is recorded. |
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 graphic designers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Commercial font licences
Stock asset subscriptions
Drawing tablets
Business computer equipment
Co-working desk hire
Business software subscriptions
One thing to watch
A home office needs a business-use calculation
Working from home does not make your entire household bill deductible. Use an appropriate business proportion or an eligible simplified method and retain the basis for your claim.
HMRC: business use of your home ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your brand-design commission.
Review client transfers, attach font and stock licences and separate personal software or household costs before your quarterly update.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for licensed design assets. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish print proofs for a client from posters for your own home.
How document capture works →Reconcile your brand-design commission payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for staged payments for a brand project 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 brand-design commission income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for staged payments for a brand project ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from graphic designers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers graphic designers 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.
Can I claim my entire home internet bill?
A shared household connection needs a reasonable business-use allocation. Keep the bill and the basis for that allocation rather than treating the whole payment as a design expense.
How do I record staged payments for a brand project?
Example: £200 received, then £400 (£600 of agreed fees covered by the payments). Together the receipts settle £600. Do not count the same invoice and payment twice. Keep unpaid balances and any credits identifiable, and follow your accounting method for when income is recorded.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
A home office needs a business-use calculation. Working from home does not make your entire household bill deductible. Use an appropriate business proportion or an eligible simplified method and retain the basis for your claim.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your brand-design commission income records and evidence of licensed design assets 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
Design a simpler routine for your 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.