Construction & trades
MTD software for driveway and paving contractors.
Lay the paving. Clear the paperwork.
Driveways and patios bring bulk deliveries, equipment bookings and payments in stages. Avona helps paving contractors keep those records together, even when several outdoor jobs overlap.
- Who it is for
- Driveway and paving contractors 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.
Paving, aggregates and drainage materials can account for a large share of the customer’s bill. Record the full sales amount and the costs separately when reviewing your income.
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 patio installation.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your patio installation, shared purchases and stage payments for a driveway project.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £2,400 for your patio installation £900 spent on paving slabs, sand and aggregates | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for paving slabs, sand and aggregates. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £2,400 as the sale and the £900 cost separately. The £1,500 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for paving for a customer's patio; £20 for slabs for your own garden | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify paving for a customer's patio separately from slabs for your own garden. | 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 stage payments for a driveway project. 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 driveway and paving contractors. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Paving slabs and blocks
Sand and aggregates
Compactor hire
Cutting discs
Skip hire
Business transport costs
One thing to watch
Keep each stage payment traceable
A materials payment, a midway instalment and a completion balance can land weeks apart. Retain the agreed schedule and receipts so every payment is accounted for once.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your patio installation.
Bring the delivery invoices and equipment receipts into Avona, then reconcile each customer payment against your job paperwork.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for paving slabs, sand and aggregates. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish paving for a customer's patio from slabs for your own garden.
How document capture works →Reconcile your patio installation payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for stage payments for a driveway project 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 patio installation income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for stage payments for a driveway project ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from driveway and paving contractors.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers driveway and paving contractors 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.
What if materials are delivered before I start the job?
Retain the delivery paperwork and supplier invoice, and follow your accounting method for the cost. Keep customer stage payments separately rather than treating a delivery as proof of income.
How do I record stage payments for a driveway project?
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?
Keep each stage payment traceable. A materials payment, a midway instalment and a completion balance can land weeks apart. Retain the agreed schedule and receipts so every payment is accounted for once.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your patio installation income records and evidence of paving slabs, sand and aggregates 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
Put your paving accounts on firm ground.
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.