Retail & crafts
MTD software for online sellers and e-commerce traders.
Pack the orders. Keep the numbers organised.
Marketplace statements, postage labels and supplier invoices can make online selling feel like several businesses at once. Avona helps sole-trader sellers bring their financial evidence into one review.
- Who it is for
- Online sellers and e-commerce traders 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.
A marketplace payout can combine sales, refunds and fees. Keep the settlement breakdown rather than recording the transfer alone as your entire sales figure.
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 online shop sales.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your online shop sales, shared purchases and an online-marketplace payout.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £920 for your online shop sales £360 spent on stock and dispatch packaging | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for stock and dispatch packaging. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £920 as the sale and the £360 cost separately. The £560 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for packaging for customer orders; £20 for boxes for personal parcels | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify packaging for customer orders separately from boxes for personal parcels. | 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. |
| £285 net payout £300 of your sales; £15 processing or platform fees | Import the bank receipt and retain the breakdown for an online-marketplace payout. Review the original sales and the charge shown on the statement. | Where the £300 represents your sales under the agreement, keep it as income and record the £15 fee separately. Do not add the £285 payout as a second sale. Check any refunds or other adjustments too. |
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 online sellers and e-commerce traders. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Stock bought for resale
Postage and courier charges
Packaging supplies
Marketplace fees
Shop software
Business advertising
One thing to watch
Separate your trading records from personal clear-outs
Selling business stock and occasionally selling your own belongings are different activities. Keep them distinguishable and retain marketplace statements so your records reflect what the business actually sold.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your online shop sales.
Upload marketplace statements and purchase evidence, then reconcile payouts, refunds and fees against the bank transactions.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for stock and dispatch packaging. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish packaging for customer orders from boxes for personal parcels.
How document capture works →Reconcile your online shop sales payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for an online-marketplace payout 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 online shop sales income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for an online-marketplace payout ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from online sellers and e-commerce traders.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers online sellers and e-commerce traders 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 my personal clear-out sales sit with business stock sales?
Keep the activities distinguishable. Retain evidence of what the business bought and sold rather than assuming that every transaction on a shared marketplace account is business trading.
How do I record an online-marketplace payout?
Example: £285 net payout (£300 of your sales; £15 processing or platform fees). Where the £300 represents your sales under the agreement, keep it as income and record the £15 fee separately. Do not add the £285 payout as a second sale. Check any refunds or other adjustments too.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Separate your trading records from personal clear-outs. Selling business stock and occasionally selling your own belongings are different activities. Keep them distinguishable and retain marketplace statements so your records reflect what the business actually sold.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your online shop sales income records and evidence of stock and dispatch packaging 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
Bring your online-selling records together.
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.