Construction & trades
MTD software for painters and decorators.
Tidy cutting-in. Tidy tax records.
Between preparing walls, collecting paint and finishing a room, paperwork is easy to leave in the van. Avona keeps decorating income and trade-counter spending ready for a calmer quarterly review.
- Who it is for
- Painters and decorators 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.
Customer charges for paint, wallpaper and labour all contribute to turnover. Regular domestic jobs can cross an MTD threshold before the amount you keep feels especially high.
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 living-room decoration.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your living-room decoration, shared purchases and an unopened tin returned to the supplier.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £680 for your living-room decoration £140 spent on paint, masking tape and filler | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for paint, masking tape and filler. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £680 as the sale and the £140 cost separately. The £540 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for paint for a customer's hallway; £20 for paint for your own bedroom | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify paint for a customer's hallway separately from paint for your own bedroom. | 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. |
| £30 supplier credit Linked to an earlier £120 purchase | Upload the original invoice and retain the credit note for an unopened tin returned to the supplier. Review the refund or account credit alongside the purchase. | The documents now show £90 of net spending. Keep the original £120 and the £30 adjustment explainable, with timing matched to your accounting method; a supplier refund is not a new customer sale. |
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 painters and decorators. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Trade paint and wallpaper
Brushes and rollers
Dust sheets
Access equipment hire
Wallpaper steamers
Surface preparation supplies
One thing to watch
Work clothes are not all protective clothing
Paint-stained everyday trousers do not automatically become deductible. Keep genuine protective clothing and equipment separate from ordinary clothes you could wear away from work.
HMRC: clothing expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your living-room decoration.
Upload your Brewers or Dulux receipts, match incoming job payments and check trade supplies against any personal decorating purchases.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for paint, masking tape and filler. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish paint for a customer's hallway from paint for your own bedroom.
How document capture works →Reconcile your living-room decoration payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for an unopened tin returned to the supplier 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 living-room decoration income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for an unopened tin returned to the supplier ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from painters and decorators.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers painters and decorators 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 include my ordinary work clothes?
Ordinary clothing is not automatically deductible because you wear it while decorating. Keep protective clothing distinct and review the purpose and eligibility of each purchase.
How do I record an unopened tin returned to the supplier?
Example: £30 supplier credit (linked to an earlier £120 purchase). The documents now show £90 of net spending. Keep the original £120 and the £30 adjustment explainable, with timing matched to your accounting method; a supplier refund is not a new customer sale.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Work clothes are not all protective clothing. Paint-stained everyday trousers do not automatically become deductible. Keep genuine protective clothing and equipment separate from ordinary clothes you could wear away from work.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your living-room decoration income records and evidence of paint, masking tape and filler 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 decorating records tidy.
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.