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Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is HMRC’s new way of reporting your personal tax (Self-Assessment).
MTD was first introduced for VAT returns and it is being phased in for individuals.
Some taxpayers will need to register, keep digital records, and start submitting quarterly updates from April 2026.
While this may sound daunting, our role is to take the complexity away and guide you every step of the way—whether this affects you now, in the future, or someone you know.
It will be introduced on a mandatory basis for some people from 6th April 2026 which is the first day of the 2026/27 tax year.
Combined Gross Income*
Based on your 2024/25 tax return.
For the 2026/27 Tax Year
Combined Gross Income*
Based on your 2025/26 tax return.
For the 2027/28 Tax Year
Combined Gross Income*
Based on your 2026/27 tax return
For the 2028/29 Tax Year
The deadline to file the 2024/25 tax return was 31 January 2026, therefore HMRC have already identified the people who will have to register and comply with the new MTD regime.
If the 2024/25 tax return is submitted late and that individual meets HMRC’s requirements for MTD, they will still have to comply. They may also receive late filing and late payment penalties for late submission of the 2024/25 tax return.
If you meet the requirements, you must register for MTD before 6th April 2026. This does not happen automatically.
Choose how you want to handle your quarterly obligations:
Filing Yourself
Via Express Tax Claims (Recommended)
The 2025/26 tax return should still be filed between 6 April 2026 and 31 January 2027 as per the current/old system.
Once this has been filed, HMRC will identify the next people who must comply with MTD and again the following year.
ITSA (Income Tax Self-Assessment)
MTD Quarterly Plan
• Digital Record Keeping
• Quarterly Submissions
• HMRC Compatible Software
Those who are happy to complete their own annual tax return
Total Annual Fee:
£463 (inc VAT)
MTD Quarterly Plus Plan
• Digital Record Keeping
• Quarterly Submissions
• HMRC Compatible Software
Those who want us to handle everything
Total Annual Fee:
£396 (inc VAT)
Annual Saving of £67 over the Quarterly Plan
No problem. You simply make a one-off payment to catch up on the missed months (from April), and then continue with the regular plan as outlined above.
Simple steps to compliance
Select your plan. We email you documents for a quick E-Sign.
Click the emailed link to set up your regular Direct Debit.
Express Tax Claims will officially sign you up for MTD with HMRC.
Send your details upon our reminders, E-Sign to approve, and we submit!
There are two choices of dates to follow and there’s little between them. When your first quarterly submission is filed, you can choose which set of deadlines you will work to.
You cannot change it after the first quarter. The deadlines remain the same either way:
Q1 – 1 April to 30 June
Q2 – 1 April to 30 September
Q3 – 1 April to 31 December
Q4 – 1 April to 31 March
Q1 – 6 April to 5 July
Q2 – 6 April to 5 October
Q3 – 6 April to 5 January
Q4 – 6 April to 5 April
Whichever you choose, the deadlines to actually file them remain the same.
Earliest date for submission | Deadline to submit | Description | Tax year |
6 April 2026 | 31 January 2027 | File Annual Tax Return | 2025/26 |
6 April 2026 | 31 January 2027 | Pay any tax you owe | 2025/26 |
1 July 2026 | 7 August 2026 | File Q1 | 2026/27 |
1 October 2026 | 7 November 2026 | File Q2 (plus 1) | 2026/27 |
1 January 2027 | 7 February 2027 | File Q3 (plus 1 & 2) | 2026/27 |
1 April 2027 | 7 May 2027 | File Q4 (plus 1, 2 & 3) | 2026/27 |
6 April 2027 | 31 January 2028 | File Annual Tax Return | 2026/27 |
6 April 2027 | 31 January 2028 | Pay any tax you owe | 2026/27 |
If you’re required to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from 6 April 2026, HMRC will not apply penalty points for late quarterly updates for the first tax year (2026 to 2027). Penalties will still apply for late tax returns or if you pay your tax bill after the due date.
After this time, a new penalty point system will be introduced.
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