Key takeaways
- The four MTD quarterly update deadlines each year are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May.
- Standard periods follow the tax year. Calendar periods end on the last day of June, September, December and March. The deadlines are identical.
- Several deadlines fall on weekends in 2026 to 2028. HMRC's guidance does not move them.
- Late quarterly updates carry no penalty points in 2026 to 2027. From 2027 to 2028, four points trigger a £200 penalty.
- The tax return and final payment are due by 31 January after the tax year.
The MTD quarterly deadlines for 2026 to 2027 and 2027 to 2028 are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May in each tax year. They are the same whether you use standard or calendar update periods. This calendar lists every date, the weekday it falls on and the penalty position for each group of taxpayers.
MTD quarterly update deadlines by tax year
| Update | Standard period ends | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 update 1 | 5 July 2026 | Fri 7 August 2026 |
| 2026-27 update 2 | 5 October 2026 | Sat 7 November 2026 |
| 2026-27 update 3 | 5 January 2027 | Sun 7 February 2027 |
| 2026-27 update 4 | 5 April 2027 | Fri 7 May 2027 |
| 2027-28 update 1 | 5 July 2027 | Sat 7 August 2027 |
| 2027-28 update 2 | 5 October 2027 | Sun 7 November 2027 |
| 2027-28 update 3 | 5 January 2028 | Mon 7 February 2028 |
| 2027-28 update 4 | 5 April 2028 | Sun 7 May 2028 |
Calendar update periods end on 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March instead, with the same deadlines. Each update covers the tax year from 6 April to the end of the period. The fourth update therefore covers the whole year. HMRC’s guidance gives these dates without any weekend adjustment, so treat them as fixed.
Standard or calendar update periods
Standard update periods are the default. Use calendar update periods if your accounting year runs from 1 April to 31 March, because they line up with your books.
Choose before you send your first update of the year. Once you have sent one, you cannot change your update periods for the rest of that tax year. If you have an agent, they can tell you which to use.
When you can send each update
You can send an update at any point after its period ends, up to and including the deadline. HMRC also allows an update up to 10 days before the period ends if you expect no more transactions. A holiday where you will earn nothing is the example HMRC gives.
Who is in MTD, and from when
| Group | Income over | First update due |
|---|---|---|
| Joined April 2026 | £50,000 | 7 August 2026 |
| Joins April 2027 | £30,000 | 7 August 2027 |
| Joins April 2028 | £20,000 | 7 August 2028 |
HMRC says around 1,077,000 more sole traders and landlords join in April 2027. The threshold falls to £20,000 from April 2028. Our MTD for Income Tax timeline explains which tax year’s income decides each group.
Penalties by deadline
HMRC applies no penalty points for late quarterly updates in 2026 to 2027. For later tax years, each missed update or tax return deadline earns one point. At four points you receive a £200 penalty, then £200 for each further missed submission deadline.
Budget 2026 adds an easement for people who join in April 2027, with no points for late quarterly updates in their first year. See our Budget 2026 MTD post for the detail. The April 2026 group does not get that easement, so points can apply to them from 2027 to 2028.
Return and payment dates
Quarterly updates do not replace the tax return. You still submit the return in your software and pay any tax due by 31 January after the end of the tax year. For 2026 to 2027 that is 31 January 2028. Late payment penalties follow a separate schedule, and the penalty guidance sets a 30-day window to pay or agree a plan in the first year, then 15 days.
For the 7 November update itself, see our guide to the 7 November 2026 update. If a deadline has already gone, read what to do after a missed update.
Frequently asked questions
What are the MTD for Income Tax quarterly deadlines?
They are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. The 7 May deadline falls in the following calendar year but belongs to the tax year that ended on 5 April.
Do calendar update periods change the deadlines?
No. Calendar periods end on 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March, but the deadlines are the same as for standard periods.
What if a deadline falls on a weekend?
HMRC’s guidance does not move the deadline. Treat the date as fixed and send the update by the last working day before it if you want a safety margin.
When do penalty points start for late quarterly updates?
They start with the 2027 to 2028 tax year. Four points trigger a £200 penalty.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 1 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.