Transport & automotive
MTD software for private hire and taxi drivers.
Finish the shift with clearer figures.
Local fares, app trips and airport runs can leave your receipts spread across platforms. Avona helps taxi and private hire drivers organise business takings and vehicle costs from the phone they already use.
- Who it is for
- Private hire and taxi drivers 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.
Platform deposits may arrive after commission and other charges. Gross fares, not just net payouts or money left after fuel, are the starting point for understanding your business income.
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 direct passenger fares.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your direct passenger fares, shared purchases and a private-hire platform payout.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £340 for your direct passenger fares £70 spent on business vehicle cleaning and dispatch charges | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for business vehicle cleaning and dispatch charges. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £340 as the sale and the £70 cost separately. The £270 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for passenger-use cleaning supplies; £20 for household cleaning products | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify passenger-use cleaning supplies separately from household cleaning products. | 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 a private-hire platform 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 private hire and taxi drivers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Council vehicle licensing
Private hire insurance
Business fuel and EV charging
Vehicle leasing
Business dashcams
Business tolls and parking
One thing to watch
The platform payout is not always your turnover
Use the platform statement to identify customer fares and deducted fees. Match the net settlement to your bank without losing the gross sale or counting it twice.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your direct passenger fares.
Bring statements and bank receipts together, record cash fares and review vehicle costs separately from personal driving.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for business vehicle cleaning and dispatch charges. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish passenger-use cleaning supplies from household cleaning products.
How document capture works →Reconcile your direct passenger fares payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a private-hire platform 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 direct passenger fares income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a private-hire platform payout ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from private hire and taxi drivers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers private hire and taxi drivers 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 if the app payout is lower than the fares shown?
Retain the fare statement and separate fees, refunds or other adjustments. Where those fares are your sales, the transfer after deductions is not the complete income record.
How do I record a private-hire platform 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?
The platform payout is not always your turnover. Use the platform statement to identify customer fares and deducted fees. Match the net settlement to your bank without losing the gross sale or counting it twice.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your direct passenger fares income records and evidence of business vehicle cleaning and dispatch charges 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
Get a clearer view of your driving income.
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.