What does success look like for HMRC with Making Tax Digital – and what does it really mean for the bookkeepers doing the work on the ground? In this Leadership Takeover Session, Craig Ogilvie, HMRC’s Director for Making Tax Digital, explains the “why” behind MTD for Income Tax, how it will change the UK tax system, and why he believes bookkeepers are central to making it work for small businesses. Get step by step guidance on MTD for Income Tax https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/making-tax-digital-for-income-tax?Utm_source=6fb Craig shares his journey from a low-income upbringing in Scotland, through 20+ years in government delivery, to leading some of the UK’s biggest programmes – including the furlough scheme during the pandemic. He explains how his parents’ values around kindness and optimism shaped his leadership style, why he focuses so heavily on people and psychological safety, and how that translates into the way he runs the MTD team today. You’ll hear a clear, human explanation of what MTD for IT actually is: digital record keeping, quarterly updates and software-based filing for millions of self-employed people. Craig talks about the three big reasons behind it – reducing errors in the tax gap, modernising the UK’s tax infrastructure, and creating better customer service through more timely data and nudges – and why he sees bookkeepers as uniquely placed to turn that into better conversations about cash flow, credit control and business performance. He also explains the scale of the change: rebuilding core systems, working with third-party software through APIs, and designing multiple agent functionality so both accountants and bookkeepers can support the same client. Craig describes travelling around the UK to meet real practices, how those conversations led to changes like faster sign-up journeys and multiple agent access, and why HMRC is committed to genuine co-creation rather than “rubber-stamping” decisions already made. The episode goes deeper into social mobility, confidence and financial understanding. Craig talks about seeing his dad’s January “bag of receipts”, the construction sector’s heavy representation in the first MTD cohort, and the financial literacy gap facing many sole traders. He reflects on sessions with unrepresented business owners, where a clear explanation – often from a bookkeeper or accountant – can quickly change how someone feels about digital tools, quarterly reporting and understanding their numbers. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.
