MTD Is Really About Rhythm, Not Perfection

If the phrase “Making Tax Digital” makes your shoulders creep up towards your ears, you’re not alone.

I see it all the time. Capable, organised, intelligent women suddenly feeling like they’re about to be told off by the internet.

And frequent scare mongering with talk of “five returns a year” isn’t helping.

So let me say this clearly, right at the start:

MTD is NOT 5 full Tax returns a year.

And I need you to know MTD is also not a judgement on how good you are at business.

It’s not some sort of test.

And it definitely isn’t a requirement to suddenly “live in spreadsheets” (shudder).

It’s a change in rhythm. That’s it.

Why I Keep Talking About Rhythm (And Not in a Woo Kinda Way)

Before I came back to accountancy and created DaM Good Business, I was an indoor cycling coach.

And not just any coach - I specialised in rhythm riding for people who felt they didn’t ’fit in’ in some traditional fitness spaces.

The goal was to create an environment where people felt comfortable getting uncomfortable. And then it was riding to the beat of the music. Finding a flow. Moving together.

Here’s the thing:

Not everyone finds the beat easily.

Some riders hear it straight away.

Others… absolutely do not.

(While some are convinced there is no beat and the music is lying to them.)

I have always been lucky enough to hear a beat quite easily, but I understood it wasn’t like that for everyone.

And that didn’t make them bad riders.

It just meant they needed clear cues, reassurance, and maybe a bit of practice to find their rhythm.

My job wasn’t to judge them.

My job was to help them find the beat in a way that worked for their body and brain.

I was the cue master general. 

Their number one cheerleader and coach. 

I became an expert in helping them to do things they didn’t think they could… but I’ll tell you more about that another time. For now we need to chat about MTD.

And I’ll tell you, MTD is exactly the same as rhythm riding….

The Fear-Mongering Around MTD (Let’s Clear This Up)

You’ve probably heard things like:

• “You’ll have to do five tax returns a year”

• “Everything has to be digital”

• “If you get it wrong, HMRC will put you in prison”  (FFS.)

That’s… not an accurate picture.

What MTD actually introduces is more regular check-ins with your numbers.

That’s it.

Not perfection.

Not constant reporting.

Not punishment for things not going to plan.

Just a new, more regular, rhythm.

What MTD Is Really Asking You To Do

At its core, MTD is about this:

• Keeping your records up to date

• Sending summary updates more regularly

• Having visibility over your own numbers, rather than surprises

Think of it like moving from:

“I’ll deal with it all later” to “I’ll do a check in, little and often”

Personally? I actually recommend monthly check-ins.

Why?

Because monthly feels:

• manageable

• predictable

• calm

It is a good amount of time to see what patterns and trends there are. Many of the business expenses will run on a monthly rhythm already.

Quarterly updates then become a useful snapshot, not a panic moment.

You can see:

• how things are going

• what’s changed

• what tax might be building up (hopefully! Remember Tax to pay means you’re making profits!)

No drama. No last-minute chaos.

You’re just reusing information you already have.

Important: Organisation ≠ Perfection

This bit matters, so I’m going to say it loudly:

Being organised does not mean being perfect.

You do not need:

• colour-coded spreadsheets

• flawless records

• a personality transplant into a “numbers person”

You are allowed to:

• use paper tools as well

• jot things down

• build habits slowly

• do things “good enough”

Paper is still valid to support you.Structure is still valid.Support is still allowed.

(It may feel a little awkward at first, but you are not required to suffer.)

A Gentle Reframe (Try This)

Instead of asking: “Am I doing this right?”

Try asking:

• What rhythm would feel supportive for me?

• What’s one regular check-in I could commit to?

• What would make this feel calmer, not heavier?

That shift alone removes so much pressure.

One Small Action You Can Take This Week

Don’t overhaul everything. Please don’t.

Just do this:

Choose one day a month to check in with your business numbers. That’s it.

No judgement. No fixing. Just noticing.

That’s how rhythms are built.

You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Learning a New Beat.

MTD isn’t something to be scared of.

It’s something to be reframed.

And just like in a spin class -  you don’t need to hear the beat perfectly on day one.

You just need someone to help you find it.

I’ve got you.

Want a Bit of Support?

I’ve created a calm, paper-based planner to support this new rhythm.

It offers weekly and monthly checklists for bookkeeping tasks to help you stay on top of things, and reminders of of the quarterly dates for MTD check-ins.

You can also download my free monthly bookkeeping checklist if you want something simple to get started with.

No pressure. No perfection. Just a steadier beat.

Find out more about my planners here: www.damgoodbusiness.com/planner 

Or buy the planner here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GF4M3H8Q