Creative & digital
MTD software for sound engineers and music producers.
More studio time. Less tax tracking.
Session fees, mixing projects and plugin renewals create a different rhythm from a monthly salary. Avona helps audio professionals organise the costs and receipts behind each production without a year-end scramble.
- Who it is for
- Sound engineers and music producers 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.
Studio day rates, production fees and relevant business royalties can add up before equipment and premises costs. Heavy reinvestment in the studio does not itself reduce MTD gross turnover.
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 recording-session project.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your recording-session project, shared purchases and a studio mixing-desk purchase.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £780 for your recording-session project £220 spent on studio and microphone hire | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for studio and microphone hire. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £780 as the sale and the £220 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 cables for paid sessions; £20 for accessories for your home hi-fi | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify cables for paid sessions separately from accessories for your home hi-fi. | 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. |
| £1,200 equipment invoice The purchase price may differ from monthly repayments | Upload the invoice for a studio mixing-desk purchase and retain any hire-purchase or finance agreement. Review what was bought and any private use. | Do not treat each finance repayment as an ordinary running cost. Equipment treatment depends on your accounting method and the agreement; keep purchase cost, interest and repayments distinguishable for review. |
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 sound engineers and music producers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
DAW subscriptions
Audio plugin licences
Studio acoustic treatment
Monitoring headphones
Studio rent
Equipment repairs
One thing to watch
Tax relief is not simply equipment depreciation
Keep invoices for microphones, monitors and outboard gear. Purchase costs, repairs and depreciation have different treatments, so check the accounting basis instead of applying one category to every kit expense.
HMRC: office, property and equipment ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your recording-session project.
Bring studio receipts and project payments together, review recurring plugins and flag major equipment purchases for professional review.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for studio and microphone hire. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish cables for paid sessions from accessories for your home hi-fi.
How document capture works →Reconcile your recording-session project payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a studio mixing-desk purchase 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 recording-session project income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a studio mixing-desk purchase ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from sound engineers and music producers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers sound engineers and music producers 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 treat all my music equipment as entirely business use?
Separate session equipment from leisure use and retain a reasonable allocation for shared kit. Larger purchases also need review under your accounting method.
How do I record a studio mixing-desk purchase?
Example: £1,200 equipment invoice (the purchase price may differ from monthly repayments). Do not treat each finance repayment as an ordinary running cost. Equipment treatment depends on your accounting method and the agreement; keep purchase cost, interest and repayments distinguishable for review.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Tax relief is not simply equipment depreciation. Keep invoices for microphones, monitors and outboard gear. Purchase costs, repairs and depreciation have different treatments, so check the accounting basis instead of applying one category to every kit expense.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your recording-session project income records and evidence of studio and microphone hire 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 your studio finances into a clearer mix.
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.