Transport & automotive
MTD software for hgv owner-operators.
Less paperwork when the wheels stop.
Haulage contracts, fuel cards and truck maintenance produce substantial paperwork every week. Avona helps sole-trader owner-operators keep the financial trail organised between jobs and rest periods.
- Who it is for
- HGV owner-operators 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.
Haulage receipts can exceed MTD thresholds despite diesel, tyres and finance taking a large share. Gross contract income is not the same as the cash remaining after truck costs.
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 haulage assignment.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your haulage assignment, shared purchases and part-payments against a haulage invoice.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £1,800 for your haulage assignment £620 spent on business fuel and tolls | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for business fuel and tolls. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £1,800 as the sale and the £620 cost separately. The £1,180 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for load-securing consumables; £20 for personal travel accessories | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify load-securing consumables separately from personal travel accessories. | 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 part-payments against a haulage invoice. 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 hgv owner-operators. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Commercial diesel
Tachograph calibration
Operator licence fees
Commercial truck insurance
Business tyre replacement
AdBlue and service supplies
One thing to watch
Do not assume employee overnight rates apply
Keep evidence of actual business travel and overnight costs. A tax-free allowance available to employed drivers is not automatically a deductible flat rate for a sole trader.
HMRC: car, van and travel expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your haulage assignment.
Bring fuel-card statements together with haulage receipts, retain truck invoices and flag overnight costs or finance agreements for a closer review.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for business fuel and tolls. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish load-securing consumables from personal travel accessories.
How document capture works →Reconcile your haulage assignment payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for part-payments against a haulage invoice 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 haulage assignment income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for part-payments against a haulage invoice ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from hgv owner-operators.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers hgv owner-operators 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.
What should I keep besides fuel receipts?
Keep the job paperwork, route evidence and invoices for tolls, repairs and other business costs. A bank statement alone may not identify the assignment or the business purpose of a purchase.
How do I record part-payments against a haulage invoice?
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?
Do not assume employee overnight rates apply. Keep evidence of actual business travel and overnight costs. A tax-free allowance available to employed drivers is not automatically a deductible flat rate for a sole trader.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your haulage assignment income records and evidence of business fuel and tolls 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
Keep your haulage tax records moving.
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.