MTD quarterly deadlines explained (2026/27 dates)

MTD splits the tax year (6 April – 5 April) into four standard quarters. After each one, you must submit a summary of that quarter's income and expenses to HMRC through recognised software — by the 7th of the following month.

The 2026/27 dates

You can optionally elect calendar quarters (starting 1 April) to line up with other bookkeeping — but most people stay on the standard dates above.

Quarterly updates are cumulative and correctable

Good news: quarterly updates are not mini tax returns. They're running totals, and if you miscategorised something in Q1 you simply correct it in a later update. The figures only become final at the year-end declaration.

The penalty points system

• Each late submission = 1 point.
• At 4 points you get a £200 penalty — and every further late submission is another £200 while you're at the threshold.
• Points expire after a period of good compliance.
• The 2026 joiners' 12-month grace period ends in April 2027 — after that, points are live for everyone.

The practical takeaway

Four deadlines a year is easy if your records are already digital — the update is then just a review-and-send. It's brutal if you're reconstructing a quarter from bank statements the night before. Set up your record-keeping once, and each deadline becomes a 10-minute job.