Construction & trades
MTD software for plasterers.
Put the trowel down. Keep the paperwork light.
After a long day skimming walls or rendering outside, typing receipts is the last job you need. Avona helps organise merchant spending and site payments in short sessions on your phone.
- Who it is for
- Plasterers 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 CIS deductions and other annual-return items, including PAYE income, interest and dividends, 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.
Plasterboard, multi-finish, sand and beads can account for a large share of each job payment. MTD looks at income before those materials and running costs come off.
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 bedroom skim.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your bedroom skim, shared purchases and a labour-only site payment.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £550 for your bedroom skim £115 spent on plaster and scrim tape | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for plaster and scrim tape. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £550 as the sale and the £115 cost separately. The £435 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for plaster for a customer's ceiling; £20 for filler for your own kitchen | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify plaster for a customer's ceiling separately from filler for your own kitchen. | 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. |
| £800 received from a contractor £1,000 gross labour; £200 CIS withheld | Bring a labour-only site payment into your review alongside the contractor's payment and deduction statement. Reconcile it against the bank entry. | The income is £1,000 and the £200 is tax withheld, not a running expense. This assumes a 20% deduction on labour only. Keep the statement for your annual return; Avona's CIS tax-return support is currently listed as in development. |
The CIS example explains the records you need. HMRC currently lists Avona’s CIS tax-return support as in development; this is not a demonstration of an available CIS submission feature. HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for plasterers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Plasterboard
Finishing compound
Scrim tape and beads
Mixer hire and maintenance
Trowels and tools
Business vehicle repairs
One thing to watch
Keep the site deduction statement
Where CIS applies, the cash reaching your bank is not the whole job income. Match the statement to the gross payment and track withheld tax separately.
HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your bedroom skim.
Snap the materials receipt before it gets covered in plaster, check the corresponding site payment and keep contractor statements with the quarter's records.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for plaster and scrim tape. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish plaster for a customer's ceiling from filler for your own kitchen.
How document capture works →Reconcile your bedroom skim payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a labour-only site payment available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
Understand your CIS records →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your bedroom skim income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a labour-only site payment ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from plasterers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers plasterers 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 do I keep cash jobs in my records?
Record the customer's cash payment when received and keep it with the job details. Spending some of that cash on plaster before banking it does not remove the original income.
How do I record a labour-only site payment?
Example: £800 received from a contractor (£1,000 gross labour; £200 cis withheld). The income is £1,000 and the £200 is tax withheld, not a running expense. This assumes a 20% deduction on labour only. Keep the statement for your annual return; Avona's CIS tax-return support is currently listed as in development.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Keep the site deduction statement. Where CIS applies, the cash reaching your bank is not the whole job income. Match the statement to the gross payment and track withheld tax separately.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your bedroom skim income records and evidence of plaster and scrim tape 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 Avona's CIS tax-return support as in development. Keep contractor deduction statements and confirm the available support before relying on Avona to report CIS deductions.
Built for the way you earn
Make your plastering admin lighter.
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.