18 June 2026
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to submit the first quarterly update of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax by 7 August 2026.
From April 2026, MTD for Income Tax is now a legal requirement for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000, introducing a new way of managing tax records and submissions.
Instead of one annual return, you will now keep digital records of your income and expenses and submit quarterly updates to HMRC, helping to receive a more up-to-date insight of your tax position throughout the year.
HMRC has confirmed that each time the quarterly update is submitted, it will cover the tax year to date, not just the previous quarter. This means that if corrections are needed for earlier records, these can be included in the latest update and you don’t need to re-send previous updates.
And when it is time to complete your tax return at the end of the year, your tax return will be pre-populated with information HMRC already holds, including any updates sent in the quarterly returns, saving you time.
If you do meet the requirements, but still have not signed up to use MTD for Income Tax, there is still time to sign up.
Follow these steps to start using it:
- choose your software - Find compatible software that works with Making Tax Digital (including free options for simple affairs). Research and select your preferred software that meets your individual needs
- sign up to the service – If you’re required to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from 6 April 2026, you should sign up now. It takes about 3 minutes to sign up, for more information watch this step-by-step video guide
- keep digital records – Use your chosen software to digitally record your income and expenses relating to your businesses
- speak to your agent – If you have an accountant or tax agent, you should discuss MTD for Income Tax with them and make sure they're prepared and can access compatible software.
Check out Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for sole traders and landlords for a more detailed step by step on how to get ready.
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