Transport & automotive
MTD software for vehicle detailers.
Give your tax records the same attention as the finish.
Paint correction, ceramic coating and mobile valeting come with specialist supplies and travel. Avona helps detailers organise those costs alongside premium bookings without spoiling the end of a long day.
- Who it is for
- Vehicle detailers 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.
High booking values count before chemicals, equipment and studio rent. Reinvesting in your setup does not by itself reduce gross turnover for the MTD test.
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 full detailing appointments.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your full detailing appointments, shared purchases and a vehicle-detailing booking.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £450 for your full detailing appointments £95 spent on detailing chemicals and consumables | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for detailing chemicals and consumables. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £450 as the sale and the £95 cost separately. The £355 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for products used on customer vehicles; £20 for products for your own car | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify products used on customer vehicles separately from products for your own car. | 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. |
| £200 booking payment, then £600 £800 agreed total | Keep the agreement for a vehicle-detailing booking and review both customer receipts against it. Bring in the payments through your bank feed or statement import. | The two payments account for the £800 total. Do not count the full invoice again as another receipt. Use your accounting method for timing, and retain evidence of any later cancellation or refund. |
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 vehicle detailers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Ceramic coating products
Polishing pads
Pressure-washer maintenance
Business water-tank equipment
Detailing studio rent
Customer booking software
One thing to watch
Personal vehicle work is not a client expense
Separate products used on your own car from stock used for customers. Equipment used privately as well as commercially may also need apportionment.
HMRC: allowable business expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your full detailing appointments.
Keep coating and chemical receipts, review booking transfers and distinguish equipment purchases from routine consumables before submitting.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for detailing chemicals and consumables. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish products used on customer vehicles from products for your own car.
How document capture works →Reconcile your full detailing appointments payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a vehicle-detailing booking 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 full detailing appointments income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a vehicle-detailing booking ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from vehicle detailers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers vehicle detailers 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 the whole cleaning-supplies receipt go into my business costs?
Review what the products were used for. Separate items bought for your private vehicle, and retain a reasonable allocation where supplies support both personal and customer work.
How do I record a vehicle-detailing booking?
Example: £200 booking payment, then £600 (£800 agreed total). The two payments account for the £800 total. Do not count the full invoice again as another receipt. Use your accounting method for timing, and retain evidence of any later cancellation or refund.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Personal vehicle work is not a client expense. Separate products used on your own car from stock used for customers. Equipment used privately as well as commercially may also need apportionment.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your full detailing appointments income records and evidence of detailing chemicals and consumables 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 detailing records spotless.
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.