Construction & trades
MTD software for plumbers.
Fix the leak. Keep tax admin under control.
Emergency callouts rarely leave a neat gap for bookkeeping. Avona helps mobile plumbers keep merchant invoices, customer transfers and van costs together without another evening at a spreadsheet.
- Who it is for
- Plumbers 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.
Boilers, pipework and sanitaryware billed to customers form part of your sales. The amount left after paying City Plumbing or Plumbase is profit, not the turnover used to assess MTD.
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 boiler repair.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your boiler repair, shared purchases and an unused radiator returned to the merchant.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £420 for your boiler repair £160 spent on replacement valves and pipe fittings | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for replacement valves and pipe fittings. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £420 as the sale and the £160 cost separately. The £260 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for a customer's taps; £20 for a tap for your own bathroom | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify a customer's taps separately from a tap for your own bathroom. | 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. |
| £30 supplier credit Linked to an earlier £120 purchase | Upload the original invoice and retain the credit note for an unused radiator returned to the merchant. Review the refund or account credit alongside the purchase. | The documents now show £90 of net spending. Keep the original £120 and the £30 adjustment explainable, with timing matched to your accounting method; a supplier refund is not a new customer sale. |
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 plumbers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Boiler repair parts
Copper pipe and fittings
Pipe benders and hand tools
Flux and solder
Relevant registration renewals
Business callout travel
One thing to watch
Match the whole job, not just its margin
A £2,000 customer payment is not reduced to £500 of turnover because the materials cost £1,500. Record the receipt and allowable costs separately, using your accounting method.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your boiler repair.
Bring merchant statements and bank transactions into Avona, attach the supporting receipts and check that each callout payment is recorded once.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for replacement valves and pipe fittings. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish a customer's taps from a tap for your own bathroom.
How document capture works →Reconcile your boiler repair payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for an unused radiator returned to the merchant 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 boiler repair income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for an unused radiator returned to the merchant ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from plumbers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers plumbers 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.
Should a materials charge be part of the customer sale?
If you buy the parts and charge the customer for them, retain the full customer invoice and the separate supplier bill. The labour margin alone does not describe the job's income.
How do I record an unused radiator returned to the merchant?
Example: £30 supplier credit (linked to an earlier £120 purchase). The documents now show £90 of net spending. Keep the original £120 and the £30 adjustment explainable, with timing matched to your accounting method; a supplier refund is not a new customer sale.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Match the whole job, not just its margin. A £2,000 customer payment is not reduced to £500 of turnover because the materials cost £1,500. Record the receipt and allowable costs separately, using your accounting method.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your boiler repair income records and evidence of replacement valves and pipe fittings 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 plumbing books up to date.
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.