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Reading nowMTD Quarterly Deadlines 2026/27: Every Date You Need to Know
2026-03-10
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts on 6 April 2026 for anyone earning over £50,000. Here are all the deadlines you need for the first tax year.
2026/27 quarterly deadlines
For the standard tax year (6 April to 5 April):
| Quarter | Period | Submission deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 April – 5 July 2026 | 7 August 2026 |
| Q2 | 6 July – 5 October 2026 | 7 November 2026 |
| Q3 | 6 October 2026 – 5 January 2027 | 7 February 2027 |
| Q4 | 6 January – 5 April 2027 | 7 May 2027 |
The year-end tax return (replacing the annual Self Assessment return) is due by 31 January 2028.
How much time do you have?
You get roughly one month after each quarter ends to submit. The exact gap varies between 32 and 33 days depending on the quarter.
What if my accounting year doesn't match the tax year?
Your quarterly update periods are set by HMRC, not by the dates you use for your annual accounts. Most people use the standard quarters, ending 5 July, 5 October, 5 January and 5 April. HMRC also supports calendar quarters ending 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March. Flonancial follows the valid quarterly periods HMRC provides for your business. Do not change period type simply to use flonancial and, if you are unsure, leave it as standard.
What happens if you miss a deadline?
HMRC is introducing a points-based penalty system for MTD. Each late submission earns you a penalty point. Once you hit a threshold (currently 4 points for quarterly submissions), you receive a £200 fine. Further late submissions incur additional £200 fines.
However, HMRC has confirmed a soft landing period for the first year of MTD for Income Tax. Penalties for late quarterly updates won't apply for the first year (2026/27), giving you time to adjust. Late payment penalties and interest on late tax payments will still apply as normal.
Set a reminder
The deadlines are consistent, roughly the 7th of the month, one month after each quarter ends. Put them in your calendar now. It takes about two minutes to submit each quarter if your records are up to date.
Why is flonancial free? What's the catch?
There isn't one. Your spreadsheet is parsed in your browser, the file never touches our servers. HMRC's API is free to use. We never see your individual transactions or bank details, we don't sell your information, and we don't show you ads. The mandatory MTD pieces, quarterly updates and the year-end tax return, will always be free.