Tool Review · Updated 2026-05
Crunch
Crunch is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA for sole traders, with the unique advantage of managed accountancy — a human accountant can handle your quarterly submissions on Pro and Premium plans. Not suitable for landlords with property income.
No commercial relationship — Crunch is featured on editorial merit alone.
Verified May 2026 · Source: GOV.UK
Crunch and MTD ITSA
Crunch is listed on the GOV.UK software finder as HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA for sole trader income. Both quarterly updates and tax return submission are ready now.
Important: Crunch’s GOV.UK listing covers sole trader income only. It does not cover UK property income. Landlords with rental income should use a tool listed for both income types — such as FreeAgent, Zoho Books, or Xero.
Verified May 2026 · Source: GOV.UK
No commercial relationship: Crunch’s affiliate programme is unconfirmed. This review is independent.
Why Crunch’s managed accountancy model stands out
Crunch occupies a unique position: it is both accounting software and a managed accountancy service. On the Pro and Premium plans, a dedicated accountant handles your quarterly MTD ITSA submissions — you do not need to interact with the software beyond keeping your records tidy.
Traditional accountants often charge £500–1,500 per year. Crunch Pro at £354/year is competitive — and the MTD ITSA submissions are handled for you.
When managed accountancy makes sense
If you find accounting software confusing or time-consuming, paying £29.50/month for Crunch Pro may be better value than paying £12–15/month for software you struggle to use. The key question is whether the managed support is worth the premium over a DIY tool like Zoho Books.
Software-only route
The free Crunch tier covers basic bookkeeping without managed accountancy. For pure software at lower cost, Zoho Books (free tier available) or FreeAgent (free with NatWest banking) are stronger picks.
MTD ITSA Phase Support
MTD ITSA Rollout Phases
- Phase 1 — April 2026 Live ✓ Supported
Income over £50,000
- Phase 2 — April 2027 ✓ Supported
Income over £30,000
- Phase 3 — April 2028 ✓ Supported
Income over £20,000
Phase support verified against GOV.UK software finder . Always confirm with the software provider before your obligation date.
Crunch is listed on the GOV.UK MTD ITSA software finder for sole trader income (verified May 2026). The GOV.UK listing does not include UK property income — landlords should use an alternative tool.
Landlord support: Not covered by Crunch's GOV.UK MTD ITSA recognition. Landlords with property income should use a tool listed for both sole trader and UK property income.
CIS support: Basic CIS recording available on higher plans. Not a dedicated CIS tool.
Pricing (GBP)
| Plan | Price/mo | Contacts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crunch Free | Free | Get started → | |
| Crunch Pro | £29.5/mo | Get started → | |
| Crunch Premium | £79/mo | Get started → |
Prices shown are monthly and exclude VAT. Crunch is unique in offering managed accountancy at a fixed monthly fee alongside software. Affiliate programme TBC — check before launch.
Last verified: April 2026
What we like
- + HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA (sole trader income)
- + Unique: managed accountancy — a human accountant handles your submissions on Pro/Premium
- + Both quarterly updates and tax return ready now
- + Fixed monthly fee — often cheaper than a traditional accountant
- + Free software tier available
What we don't like
- − GOV.UK listing covers sole trader income only — not suitable for landlords
- − More expensive than software-only options for DIY users
- − Less feature-rich software than Xero or QuickBooks
- − Not ideal for CIS subcontractors
Who it's best for
- ✓ Sole traders who want a human accountant to handle MTD ITSA for them
- ✓ Users who find accounting software intimidating
- ✓ Those who want fixed-fee accountancy at a predictable monthly cost
Not ideal if
- ✗ Landlords with property income (not covered by GOV.UK listing — use FreeAgent or Zoho Books)
- ✗ CIS subcontractors needing dedicated CIS management
- ✗ DIY users comfortable with accounting software (Zoho Books is cheaper)