Checked against GOV.UK on 14 August 2026
On 12 August 2026 HMRC announced that it will start signing up people who need to use Making Tax Digital for 2026 to 2027 but have not signed up themselves.
From September 2026, HMRC will begin signing up customers who should be using MTD for the 2026 to 2027 tax year but have yet to do so, helping them meet their requirements. HMRC said this would happen in stages over the coming months, and that customers can avoid it by signing up themselves first.
HMRC also said new guidance would be published in late August 2026 to explain what customers need to do if they receive a letter from HMRC about being signed up.
HMRC's stated reason: signing up yourself means you can make sure your MTD details are correct from the start, choose the software that works best for you, and prepare in your own time, rather than waiting to be contacted.
| Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|
| 864,000 sole traders and landlords facing the new rules | HMRC news release, 5 February 2026 |
| More than 570,000 signed up to the service | HMRC news release, 12 August 2026 |
| More than 436,000 first quarterly updates sent | HMRC news release, 12 August 2026 |
These are HMRC's published figures on the dates shown, measuring different things at different times. We have not netted them off against each other and neither has HMRC.
Being signed up does not change what you owe or when. It changes how you report: digital records, four quarterly updates, and the tax return from software. Check the guidance HMRC publishes with the letter, confirm the business and property details HMRC has used, and get software in place.
Sign up yourself instead → Check whether you are actually in scope →
General information about UK tax rules, not tax advice. Your own circumstances and HMRC's official guidance govern your position. If you are unsure, speak to an accountant or contact HMRC. Tax rules change — if this page is more than a few months old, check the GOV.UK pages linked above. Found an error? Email hello@getaxionlabs.com and we will correct it.