29 April 2026 · 4 min read · 360 Accounts & Bookkeeping Ltd
Important: If you're self-employed or a landlord earning over £50,000, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax officially started on 6 April 2026. If you haven't signed up yet — you need to act now.
So what's actually changed?
From 6 April 2026, HMRC switched on Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax for the first wave of people affected — around 864,000 sole traders and landlords across the UK who earn more than £50,000 from self-employment or property.
Instead of one big tax return every January, you'll now send HMRC quarterly updates of your income and expenses using approved software. These aren't extra tax bills — think of them as light-touch digital check-ins. If you're tracking your money properly, the software generates and sends these summaries automatically.
Who's affected — and when?
| Start Date | Who's Affected | First Return Due |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2026 ← NOW | Earning £50,000+ in 2024–25 | 31 Jan 2028 |
| 6 April 2027 | Earning £30,000+ in 2025–26 | 31 Jan 2029 |
| 6 April 2028 | Earning £20,000+ in 2026–27 | 31 Jan 2030 |
If your income was under £50,000 last year, you have a little breathing room — but MTD is coming for everyone eventually. Getting your records in shape now will save you stress later.
What do you actually need to do?
Step 1 — Choose compatible software
You'll need HMRC-approved MTD software. Options include QuickBooks, Xero, FreeAgent, and several free tools for simpler setups.
Step 2 — Sign up with HMRC
You (or your accountant) need to formally enrol through your Government Gateway account. It can take a few days — don't leave it to the last minute.
Step 3 — Start keeping digital records
All income and expenses must be logged digitally from now on. Your software pulls this together each quarter and submits a summary to HMRC automatically.
When are the quarterly deadlines?
| Quarter | Period | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 Apr – 5 Jul 2026 | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Q2 | 6 Jul – 5 Oct 2026 | 7 Nov 2026 |
| Q3 | 6 Oct – 5 Jan 2027 | 7 Feb 2027 |
| Q4 | 6 Jan – 5 Apr 2027 | 7 May 2027 |
First deadline coming fast: Your first quarterly update is due 7 August 2026. That's covering April to July 2026. If you haven't signed up yet, do it now.
What if you haven't signed up yet?
HMRC is not yet issuing penalties for late sign-ups in the first year — but that grace period won't last forever. If you're in scope and haven't enrolled, get it sorted now before penalties kick in.
Already using an accountant? If you're a client of 360 Accounts & Bookkeeping, we'll handle your MTD sign-up and quarterly submissions for you. Just get in touch and we'll take it from there.
Not sure if MTD applies to you?
We can check your position, handle your sign-up, and make sure your quarterly submissions are done on time — every time.
Get in touch → [www.360accounts.net](https://www.360accounts.net)
360 Accounts & Bookkeeping Ltd · [www.360accounts.net](https://www.360accounts.net)
Sources: HMRC MTD for Income Tax guidance | GOV.UK | HMRC Agent Update, April 2026