First MTD quarterly deadline arrives
The first quarterly reporting deadline under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is 7 August 2026. HMRC has now confirmed what will happen to those who miss it, including when it will start sending reminder letters. What do you need to know?
Those who joined MTD IT from April 2026 and use standard quarterly reporting must submit their first quarterly update by 7 August. The submission covers the first quarter of the 2026/27 tax year and is made through compatible software.
HMRC’s latest software developer newsletter confirms that taxpayers who miss the deadline will receive a reminder letter, although these will not start to arrive until October 2026. Those who have opted for digital communications may also receive up to two reminder messages through HMRC’s online services.
Importantly, taxpayers in the first mandatory wave of MTD IT will not receive penalty points for late quarterly updates during 2026/27. However, the obligation to submit remains, so anyone missing the 7 August deadline should bring their quarterly reporting up to date rather than waiting for HMRC’s letter.
The newsletter also highlights some teething problems with the new system. HMRC has identified cases where quarterly obligations have remained open because software submissions did not cover the entire quarterly period. A small number of taxpayers have also been unable to submit because their quarterly obligations were not created correctly when they signed up.
If you are required to use MTD IT and have not yet submitted your first quarterly update, the deadline is now here. Missing it may not result in a penalty point this year, but the outstanding submission will not simply disappear and HMRC intends to follow up with those who fail to file.
Related Topics
-
Loan Charge settlement offers begin to land
HMRC has begun sending formal settlement offers to individuals and employers with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities, alongside detailed new guidance explaining how offers will be calculated and how long recipients have to respond. What’s the full story?
-
The hidden income tax benefit of marriage
You recently got married and a relative joked that you can save lots of money because of the tax breaks for married couples. As a newlywed are you entitled to a reduction in your income tax bill?
-
September deadline to opt out of winter fuel payment
Pensioners whose income is over £35,000 have only days left to opt out of the 2026/27 Winter Fuel Payment and avoid having it recovered through the tax system. What do you need to know?