Creative & digital
MTD software for copywriters and content creators.
Keep the words flowing. Make the books less work.
Retainers, editorial commissions and project balances are easier to manage while the brief is still familiar. Avona helps independent writers organise those payments and the costs of research and delivery.
- Who it is for
- Copywriters and content creators 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.
A series of modest monthly retainers can build significant annual income. MTD is based on gross receipts under your accounting method, not the profit left after tools and workspace costs.
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 website copy commission.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your website copy commission, shared purchases and payments for a staged copywriting brief.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £720 for your website copy commission £85 spent on project research subscriptions | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for project research subscriptions. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £720 as the sale and the £85 cost separately. The £635 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for reference material for commissioned work; £20 for books bought for leisure | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify reference material for commissioned work separately from books bought for leisure. | 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 received, then £400 £600 of agreed fees covered by the payments | Keep the supporting invoices and payment breakdown for payments for a staged copywriting brief. Match each receipt to the work it settles during your review. | Together the receipts settle £600. Do not count the same invoice and payment twice. Keep unpaid balances and any credits identifiable, and follow your accounting method for when income is recorded. |
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 copywriters and content creators. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Professional research tools
Writing software
Trade reference publications
Business workspace costs
Co-working memberships
Portfolio website hosting
One thing to watch
Personal reading is not automatically research
Keep the business purpose of publications and subscriptions clear. Mixed personal and work purchases need review rather than a blanket claim for everything you read.
HMRC: allowable business expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your website copy commission.
Match retainers to client records, capture reference purchases and review workspace spending before approving a quarterly update.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for project research subscriptions. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish reference material for commissioned work from books bought for leisure.
How document capture works →Reconcile your website copy commission payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for payments for a staged copywriting brief 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 website copy commission income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for payments for a staged copywriting brief ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from copywriters and content creators.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers copywriters and content creators 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 separate a sponsored assignment from my own spending?
Retain the assignment agreement and evidence of business purchases. A personal purchase does not become deductible simply because it appears in your content.
How do I record payments for a staged copywriting brief?
Example: £200 received, then £400 (£600 of agreed fees covered by the payments). Together the receipts settle £600. Do not count the same invoice and payment twice. Keep unpaid balances and any credits identifiable, and follow your accounting method for when income is recorded.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Personal reading is not automatically research. Keep the business purpose of publications and subscriptions clear. Mixed personal and work purchases need review rather than a blanket claim for everything you read.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your website copy commission income records and evidence of project research subscriptions 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
Write a simpler chapter for your tax records.
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.