Professional services & education
MTD software for hr consultants.
Keep the practice records as considered as your advice.
Retainers, investigations and policy projects produce varied invoices and sensitive work. Avona helps independent HR advisers organise financial records without putting case material into the bookkeeping process.
- Who it is for
- HR consultants 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.
Monthly advisory retainers and project fees combine for the MTD gross-income test. Legal resources, insurance and client travel are separate costs, even where they use much of the payment.
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 HR policy review.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your HR policy review, shared purchases and an HR-advice retainer.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £1,100 for your HR policy review £140 spent on employment-reference subscriptions | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for employment-reference subscriptions. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £1,100 as the sale and the £140 cost separately. The £960 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for printing for a client handbook; £20 for printing for personal documents | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify printing for a client handbook separately from printing for personal documents. | 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. |
| £300 monthly service payment An agreement covering a defined service period | Bring the bank payment into Avona and retain the agreement for an HR-advice retainer. Check which month or service period the receipt covers. | Repeated descriptions can represent legitimate payments for different periods. Check the agreement before treating one as a duplicate, and keep one-off project fees or extra work separately identifiable. |
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 hr consultants. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
CIPD membership
Employment-law databases
Professional indemnity insurance
Eligible client travel
Secure business document storage
Practice software
One thing to watch
Keep case files separate from financial evidence
Attach invoices or receipts needed for the tax record, not investigation notes or employee details. A transaction reference should not become a substitute for your confidential case system.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your HR policy review.
Match client fees, review professional subscriptions and keep financial evidence concise so records stay usable without duplicating sensitive documents.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for employment-reference subscriptions. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish printing for a client handbook from printing for personal documents.
How document capture works →Reconcile your HR policy review payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for an HR-advice retainer 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 HR policy review income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for an HR-advice retainer ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from hr consultants.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers hr consultants 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.
Should employee case files be uploaded with my invoice?
Keep the financial evidence and use appropriate client references. Confidential personnel documents are not routinely needed to explain a consultancy payment and belong in your case-record system.
How do I record an HR-advice retainer?
Example: £300 monthly service payment (an agreement covering a defined service period). Repeated descriptions can represent legitimate payments for different periods. Check the agreement before treating one as a duplicate, and keep one-off project fees or extra work separately identifiable.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Keep case files separate from financial evidence. Attach invoices or receipts needed for the tax record, not investigation notes or employee details. A transaction reference should not become a substitute for your confidential case system.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your HR policy review income records and evidence of employment-reference subscriptions 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 HR practice finances in order.
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.