Transport & automotive
MTD software for breakdown recovery operators.
Be ready for the callout, not a paperwork backlog.
Insurance-network jobs and private recoveries can pay at different times. Avona helps independent recovery operators keep callout receipts, truck costs and safety spending together around unpredictable shifts.
- Who it is for
- Breakdown recovery operators 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.
Recovery fees and vehicle-transport work build turnover before truck finance and running costs. Expensive equipment does not make the gross-income MTD test disappear.
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 vehicle recovery callout.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your vehicle recovery callout, shared purchases and a recovery-winch purchase.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £520 for your vehicle recovery callout £130 spent on equipment hire for the recovery | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for equipment hire for the recovery. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £520 as the sale and the £130 cost separately. The £390 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for recovery-job consumables; £20 for supplies for your own vehicle | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify recovery-job consumables separately from supplies for your own vehicle. | 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 recovery-winch 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 breakdown recovery operators. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Recovery-truck maintenance
Winch ropes
Protective high-visibility gear
Roadside business insurance
Beacon servicing
Business fuel
One thing to watch
A truck payment may contain different tax items
Finance capital, interest and maintenance have different treatments. Keep the agreement rather than claiming the whole debit as vehicle running costs.
HMRC: office, property and equipment ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your vehicle recovery callout.
Review network remittances against individual jobs, attach repair and safety invoices and track private-customer receipts alongside contract work.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for equipment hire for the recovery. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish recovery-job consumables from supplies for your own vehicle.
How document capture works →Reconcile your vehicle recovery callout payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a recovery-winch 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 vehicle recovery callout income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a recovery-winch purchase ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from breakdown recovery operators.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers breakdown recovery operators 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.
Are finance repayments on recovery equipment ordinary running costs?
Retain the purchase invoice and finance agreement so the equipment, interest and repayments can be reviewed separately. The monthly bank debit alone is not enough to establish the treatment.
How do I record a recovery-winch 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?
A truck payment may contain different tax items. Finance capital, interest and maintenance have different treatments. Keep the agreement rather than claiming the whole debit as vehicle running costs.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your vehicle recovery callout income records and evidence of equipment hire for the recovery 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
Bring your recovery business records together.
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.