Construction & trades
MTD software for carpenters and joiners.
Clean joints. Clear records.
Workshop days, timber-yard runs and kitchen installations all generate different paperwork. Keep job materials and workshop overheads in view, with Avona AI helping you sort transactions between commissions.
- Who it is for
- Carpenters and joiners 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.
Timber, sheet materials and bespoke hardware supplied to clients add to your billed income. Buying those items back out of the payment does not remove them from your 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 fitted wardrobe commission.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your fitted wardrobe commission, shared purchases and a bespoke staircase booking.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £1,800 for your fitted wardrobe commission £650 spent on timber, hinges and drawer runners | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for timber, hinges and drawer runners. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £1,800 as the sale and the £650 cost separately. The £1,150 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for timber for a customer's shelves; £20 for wood for a hobby project | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify timber for a customer's shelves separately from wood for a hobby project. | 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 bespoke staircase 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 carpenters and joiners. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Timber and sheet materials
Workshop rent
Workshop business electricity
Blade and router-bit sharpening
Dust extraction equipment
Adhesives and fixings
One thing to watch
A workshop machine needs the right treatment
Do not assume accounting depreciation is a tax deduction. Equipment treatment depends on your accounting basis and the asset, and private use must be separated.
HMRC: office, property and equipment ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your fitted wardrobe commission.
Capture timber-yard invoices before cutting starts, keep workshop bills distinct from job supplies and review equipment purchases with your accountant when needed.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for timber, hinges and drawer runners. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish timber for a customer's shelves from wood for a hobby project.
How document capture works →Reconcile your fitted wardrobe commission payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a bespoke staircase 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 fitted wardrobe commission income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a bespoke staircase booking ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from carpenters and joiners.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers carpenters and joiners 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.
How should I record a new workshop machine?
Keep the purchase invoice and any finance agreement. A machine you retain for the workshop is different from timber used in a customer's commission; the accounting treatment depends on your method.
How do I record a bespoke staircase 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?
A workshop machine needs the right treatment. Do not assume accounting depreciation is a tax deduction. Equipment treatment depends on your accounting basis and the asset, and private use must be separated.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your fitted wardrobe commission income records and evidence of timber, hinges and drawer runners 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
Give your joinery records a cleaner finish.
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.