Every MTD Deadline in One Place Never Miss a Filing Again
VAT returns, quarterly income tax updates, EOPS, Final Declarations —all your Making Tax Digital deadlines with live countdowns, penalty consequences, and expert filing support.
Updated for 2025/26
Live countdown timers
Penalty guide included
MTD-ITSA · Q1 2026
First Quarterly Update Due
MTD-ITSA · Q1 2026
First Quarterly Update Due
MTD for Income Tax starts April 2026 just months away.
If your gross income exceeds £50,000, you must begin quarterly digital reporting from 6 April 2026
At A Glance
Your MTD Filing Obligations
The number of filings you're responsible for depends on which MTD regime applies to you. Here's the full picture.
MTD for VAT
VAT-Registered Businesses
If you're registered for VAT regardless of your turnover, MTD already applies. You must keep digital records and submit via compatible software now.
4
Returns /
Year
7th
Day of the /
Month
£200
Points /
Penalty
MTD for Income Tax (ITSA)
Self-Employed & Landlords
From April 2026 for £50k+ earners. Six submissions per year replace your annual Self Assessment return quarterly updates plus EOPS *EOPS to delete*and Final Declaration.
6
Submissions /
Year
4
Quarterly /
Updates
31Jan
Annual /
Deadline
VAT + ITSA Combined
Caught by Both Regimes?
If you're VAT-registered AND self-employed or a landlord above the ITSA threshold, you could be responsible for up to 10 separate filings per year.
10
Total /
Filings
4
VAT /
Returns
6
ITSA /
Filings
MTD for Income Tax (ITSA)
Quarterly Update Deadlines 2026/27
Each quarterly update is a digital summary of your income and expenses submitted via MTD-compatible software. The deadline is the 5th of the month following the end of each quarter.
Quarter 1
Spring Update
6 April – 5 July 2026
Submission Deadline
5 August 2026
The first ever ITSA quarterly update. Covers the opening weeks of the new tax year set up your software before 6 April.
Quarter 2
Summer Update
6 July – 5 October 2026
Submission Deadline
5 November 2026
Covers the summer trading period. Ensure bank feeds are reconciled and all income is categorised correctly before filing.
Quarter 3
Autumn Update
6 October – 5 January 2027
Submission Deadline
5 February 2027
Spans the holiday period don't let Christmas cause you to miss this deadline. Set a calendar reminder for early January.
Quarter 4
Year-End Update
6 January – 5 April 2027
Submission Deadline
5 May 2027
The final quarterly update of the year. Prepare for the EOPS shortly after your year-end figures need to be accurate.
End of Period Statement (EOPS)
31 January 2027
Finalises your business or property income for the full tax year. This is where you make year-end adjustments, claim reliefs, and confirm accuracy. One EOPS ( EOPS to delete* per income source — so two if you have both trading and rental income.
Final Declaration
31 January 2027
Replaces the traditional Self Assessment tax return. It consolidates all your income quarterly updates, EOPS adjustments EOPS to delete* , plus any other sources like PAYE, dividends, or savings interest and confirms your total tax liability.
Quarterly updates are simplified summaries — not full accounts. You're telling HMRC your approximate income and expenses for the period. The detailed reconciliation happens at the EOPS EOPS to delete* and the Final Declaration stage. This makes each quarterly update quicker to complete than you might expect.
MTD for VAT
VAT Return Deadlines Standard Calendar Quarter
VAT return deadlines are one month and seven days after each quarter ends. Both the submission and payment fall on the same date. The table below assumes a standard calendar quarter stagger.
Quarter
Period Covered
Submission date
Deadline
Days Until Due
Q1
1 January – 31 March
7 May
7 May
79 Days
Q2
1 April – 30 June
7 August
7 August
171 Days
Q3
1 July – 30 September
7 November
7 November
355 Days
Q4
1 October - 31 December
7 February
7 February
263 Days
Different VAT Staggers
Not all businesses use calendar quarters. HMRC assigns a stagger based on when you registered. Always check your specific return periods in your HMRC business tax account — your deadlines may differ from the table above.
Monthly & Annual Schemes
Some businesses submit monthly VAT returns (common for repayment traders). Others use the Annual Accounting Scheme with a single annual return. Your scheme determines your specific deadlines — check your registration details.
Direct Debit Submissions
If you pay VAT by direct debit, HMRC typically collects payment 3 working days after the standard deadline. The submission itself must still be filed by the standard date — a late filing with DD payment still earns a penalty point.
Know The Consequences
MTD Penalty Structure
HMRC uses a points-based system for late submissions and a separate percentage-based regime for late payments. Missing deadlines costs real money, here's exactly what's at stake.
Trigger
What happens
VAT
ITSA
Severity
Each missed return
You accumulate 1 penalty point per late submission
+1 point
+1 point
Low
Points threshold Reached
Automatic £200 fixed penalty issued (VAT quarterly = 4 points; ITSA quarterly = 4 points)
4 points → £200
4 points → £200
Medium
Every miss after threshold
Additional £200 fine for each subsequent late return while at the threshold
+£200 per miss
+£200 per miss
High
Points expiry
Points expire after 24 months of compliance — but only after all outstanding submissions are filed
24 Months
24 Months
Note
Trigger
What happens
VAT
ITSA
Severity
Each missed return
You accumulate 1 penalty point per late submission
+1 point
+1 point
Low
Points threshold Reached
Automatic £200 fixed penalty issued (VAT quarterly = 4 points; ITSA quarterly = 4 points)
4 points → £200
4 points → £200
Medium
Every miss after threshold
Additional £200 fine for each subsequent late return while at the threshold
+£200 per miss
+£200 per miss
High
Points expiry
Points expire after 24 months of compliance — but only after all outstanding submissions are filed
24 Months
24 Months
Note
Trigger
What happens
VAT
ITSA
Severity
Each missed return
You accumulate 1 penalty point per late submission
+1 point
+1 point
Low
Points threshold Reached
Automatic £200 fixed penalty issued (VAT quarterly = 4 points; ITSA quarterly = 4 points)
4 points → £200
4 points → £200
Medium
Every miss after threshold
Additional £200 fine for each subsequent late return while at the threshold
+£200 per miss
+£200 per miss
High
Points expiry
Points expire after 24 months of compliance — but only after all outstanding submissions are filed
24 Months
24 Months
Note
Don't rely on HMRC leniency. The new points-based system is largely automated. Points are tracked digitally and fines are issued without manual review. Once you reach the threshold — 4 points for quarterly filers — the £200 penalty is applied automatically. The best protection is never missing a deadline in the first place. We handle all filings for our managed clients, with proactive reminders well in advance of every deadline.
Full Year Calendar View
Know the Consequences MTD Penalty Structure
A complete view of every MTD deadline across both regimes. Toggle between the current and coming tax years.
- ITSA Quarterly Update
- VAT Return
- EOPS / Final Declaration
April 2026
No MTD Deadlines
May 2026
- VAT Return
June 2026
No MTD Deadlines
July 2026
No MTD Deadlines
April 2026
- ITSA Q1 Update 5 Aug
May 2026
No MTD Deadlines
June 2026
No MTD Deadlines
July 2026
- ITSA Q2 Update 5 Nov
- VAT Return Q3 7 Nov
December 2026
No MTD Deadlines
January 2026
- EOPS 31 Jan
- Final Declaration 31 Jan
June 2026
- EOPS 31 Jan
- Final Declaration 31 Jan
July 2026
No MTD Deadlines
- ITSA Quarterly Update
- VAT Return
- EOPS / Final Declaration
April 2027
No MTD Deadlines
May 2027
- VAT Return
June 2027
No MTD Deadlines
July 2027
No MTD Deadlines
August 2027
- ITSA Q1 Update 5 Aug
September 2027
No MTD Deadlines
October 2027
No MTD Deadlines
November 2027
- ITSA Q2 Update 5 Nov
- VAT Return Q3 7 Nov
December 2027
No MTD Deadlines
January 2027
- EOPS 31 Jan
- Final Declaration 31 Jan
February 2027
- ITSA Q3 Update 5 Feb
- VAT Return Q4 7 Feb
March 2027
No MTD Deadlines
Expert Guidance
7 Ways to Never Miss an MTD Deadline
Set Up Software Alerts
MTD-compatible software like Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent have built-in reminder features. Configure notifications for at least 4 weeks before each deadline — not just the day before.
Add Every Deadline to Your Calendar Now
Add all 6 ITSA dates (or 4 VAT dates) to your phone or work calendar today, with a 2-week advance reminder. Treat them like unmoveable client meetings — because a penalty is far worse than a rescheduled call.
Reconcile Monthly, Not Quarterly
Don't wait until the quarter ends to start reconciling. Keep your bank feed up to date monthly so that when the deadline approaches, you only have a few weeks of transactions to review — not three months.
Digitise Receipts Immediately
Most MTD software has a mobile app that lets you photograph receipts on the spot. Processing expenses the day they happen is far easier than hunting for a paper receipt three months later when you're trying to file.
Delegate to a Professional
The simplest way to guarantee you'll never miss a deadline is to hand over your MTD filing to specialists who handle it for you. We send reminders, review your figures, and file — you just approve and move on.
Plan for the Tax Bill Early
Quarterly updates give you real-time visibility of your growing tax liability throughout the year. Use this data to set aside money each quarter rather than scrambling for a lump sum in January.
Keep Your Software Connected
Many penalty issues arise not from missing deadlines but from broken digital links expired bank feed connections, software not updated, or authorisation lapses. Check your software connection monthly to ensure it's still live and submitting correctly.
Let Us Handle Every Filing Deadline For You
Our fully managed service means you'll never accumulate a penalty point. We track your deadlines, send you reminders, review your figures, and file on time — every single quarter.
- All 4 quarterly ITSA updates filed on your behalf.
- End of Period Statement reviewed and submitted.
- Final Declaration completed accurately.
- VAT returns prepared and filed each quarter.
- Proactive alerts weeks before every deadline.
- Year-round support from UK-based MTD specialists.
Never Miss a Deadline Again
Book a free consultation — we'll confirm your filing obligations and get you set up.
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