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Making Tax Digital dates

Which April it reaches you depends on your income. Then four quarterly updates a year and the return by 31 January.

£50k in 2026, £30k in 2027, £20k in 2028
3 Aprils
updates by 7 Aug, Nov, Feb, May
4 a year
return and payment
31 Jan
rent plus self-employment, before expenses
Turnover

Try it with your dates

How it works

  • Over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025 means MTD from April 2026; over £30,000 from 2027; over £20,000 from 2028.

  • Each update covers the year to date, so a late one is caught up by the next.

  • The return and the tax are due by 31 January after the tax year ends, MTD or not.

Your dates, on a line

Example: MTD starts Tuesday 6 April 2027, income £30,000 to £50,000.

MTD starts6 Apr 2027MTD update7 Aug 2027MTD update7 Nov 2027Tax return and payment31 Jan 2028
  1. MTD starts
  2. MTD update for the quarter to 5 Jul 2027
  3. MTD update for the quarter to 5 Oct 2027
  4. Tax return and payment for 2026 to 2027
Small ticks are the earlier reminders we send before each date.

Do

  • Count gross rent: the threshold is turnover, not profit.
  • Pick MTD software before your first April; HMRC writes to you the year before.
  • Elect calendar quarters if your books run that way; the deadlines stay the same.

Do not

  • Wait for a letter to work out your April: it follows from last year's return.
  • Miss a quarter thinking it is small: penalties are points-based and add up.