Checked against GOV.UK on 14 August 2026
There are only five dates in the MTD year: four quarterly update deadlines and the tax return deadline. They are the same for everyone, whichever update periods you use.
Every update deadline is one month and two days after the end of the period it covers. That gives the same four dates every year:
| Standard update period | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 6 April to 5 July | 7 August |
| 6 April to 5 October | 7 November |
| 6 April to 5 January | 7 February |
| 6 April to 5 April | 7 May (the following tax year) |
| Calendar update period | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 June | 7 August |
| 1 April to 30 September | 7 November |
| 1 April to 31 December | 7 February |
| 1 April to 31 March | 7 May (the following tax year) |
| Date | What is due |
|---|---|
| 6 April 2026 | Start keeping digital records (1 April 2026 if you use calendar periods) |
| 7 August 2026 | First quarterly update |
| 7 November 2026 | Second quarterly update |
| 31 January 2027 | Your 2025 to 2026 tax return — filed the usual way, because it covers the period before MTD started |
| 7 February 2027 | Third quarterly update |
| 7 May 2027 | Fourth quarterly update |
| 31 January 2028 | Your first MTD tax return, for 2026 to 2027, filed from your software |
You can send an update any time between the end of the update period and the deadline. You can also send it up to 10 days before the period ends if you are confident no further transactions will be recorded — for example if you are away for the rest of the period.
Work out your own four dates →
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.