Making Tax Digital (MTD): Quarterly Return Dates Explained

If you are a sole trader or landlord with gross income of £50,000 or more, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will apply from 6 April 2026. Under the new system, you will move away from submitting one annual tax return and instead complete MTD quarterly returns to HMRC throughout the year, followed by a final declaration at the end of the tax year.

Quarterly Return Dates and Deadlines

Under MTD, the tax year is split into four standard quarters. You’ll need to submit an update for each quarter by the following deadlines:

These quarterly updates replace the traditional “once-a-year” approach. Instead of gathering everything at the end of the tax year, your income and expenses are reported throughout the year.

Quarterly Updates Are Cumulative (Important New Rule)

From April 2026, quarterly submissions will work slightly differently from what many people expect:

• Each quarterly update is cumulative.
• This means every submission shows your year-to-date totals, not just figures for that single quarter.
• If you make a mistake in an earlier quarter, you don’t need to amend that return. You can simply correct the figures in your next quarterly update.

This is a key change from the current Self Assessment system, where errors are usually corrected by submitting an amended annual tax return.

The Final Declaration: What It Is and When It’s Due (Deadline)

In addition to the four quarterly updates, you must submit a final declaration by 31 January after the end of the tax year.

This is similar to the current Self Assessment deadline but works alongside your quarterly submissions rather thanreplacing them.

What the Final Declaration Includes

The final declaration brings everything together. It includes:

• All your cumulative quarterly figures from MTD income sources; and
• Any other income or information that would normally go on a tax return, such as:
• bank interest
• dividends
• employment income
• pensions
• student loans

Once submitted, the final declaration becomes your official annual tax return for the year.

Software Requirements Under MTD

If you are within MTD for Income Tax:

• You cannot use HMRC’s standard online Self Assessment service.
• You must use MTD-compatible software to:
• keep digital records
• submit quarterly updates
• submit your final declaration

If your current software does not support the final declaration:

• You may need to switch to another compatible software provider, or
• Use additional software alongside your existing system.
• HMRC’s MTD for Income Tax support team can provide guidance if needed.

This digital record-keeping and software requirement is another major change coming in from April 2026.

 Need a Hand?

MTD is a big change, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’d like support with setting up software, managing your records, or handling submissions to HMRC, we’d be delighted to help.

Feel free to get in touch for a friendly, no-obligation chat about how to get ready for MTD.

Further Reading:

Your Making Tax Digital Roadmap for April 2026