Historically, January has always been the time of year many accountants dread. The 31 January self assessment deadline brings with it the usual rituals: clients arriving with carrier bags full of receipts, endless phone calls chasing paperwork, and long days spent trying to get everything over the line. Throw in the dark winter evenings and the post-Christmas slump, and it’s no surprise the profession dubs it ‘silly season’.

But all that is changing. Earlier this month, self-employed taxpayers and their accountants submitted their first quarterly updates under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, marking the start of a new reporting rhythm for the profession.