MTD ITSA Deadlines 2026: Dates, Penalties and What Happens If You Miss One

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is now live, and one of the biggest changes it brings is moving sole traders from a single annual tax return to four quarterly submissions per year. That means four deadlines instead of one — and a penalty system that kicks in if you miss them.

This guide covers everything you need to know: the exact dates, what happens if you're late, and how to make sure you never miss a submission. If you're still unsure whether MTD applies to you, start with our guide on what is MTD ITSA?.

The four MTD ITSA quarterly deadlines

Under MTD ITSA, your tax year is split into four quarters running from April to April. The standard quarterly periods and their submission deadlines are:

Each quarterly update is a summary of your income and expenses for that three-month period. You don't pay tax at the end of each quarter — you're simply reporting your figures to HMRC. The actual tax is calculated and paid after your final declaration in January.

What is the MTD ITSA final declaration deadline?

On top of the four quarterly updates, you'll need to submit a final declaration after the end of the tax year. This replaces the old Self Assessment tax return. It's where you:

• Confirm your quarterly figures are correct
• Add any other income sources not included in your quarterly updates
• Claim reliefs and allowances
• Confirm your total tax liability for the year

The deadline for the final declaration is 31 January — the same date as the old Self Assessment deadline. So that part hasn't changed.

What are the MTD ITSA penalty points?

This is one of the most important things to understand. HMRC has introduced a points-based penalty system for late MTD submissions — and it works differently to the old fixed penalties.

Here's how it works:

• Every time you miss a quarterly submission deadline, you receive one penalty point
• Points accumulate on your account
• Once you reach the threshold of 4 points, HMRC issues a £200 financial penalty
• After that, every further late submission costs you another £200
• Points expire after 24 months if you remain compliant

So missing one deadline doesn't immediately cost you money. But missing all four in a year would hit the threshold and trigger the £200 fine — plus another £200 for each subsequent late submission.

What happens if I miss an MTD ITSA deadline?

If you miss a quarterly submission deadline:

1. HMRC adds one penalty point to your account
2. You receive a notice from HMRC informing you of the point
3. Your account shows your current points total
4. If you've reached 4 points, a £200 penalty is automatically issued

You can appeal a penalty point if you have a reasonable excuse — for example, serious illness, bereavement, or a genuine technical failure with HMRC's systems. Normal business pressures or simply forgetting do not count as reasonable excuses.

Can I reset my MTD penalty points?

Yes — but it takes time. To have your points reset to zero, you need to submit all your returns on time for a continuous period. For quarterly filers, that period is 24 months of continuous compliance. Once you've done that, HMRC will reset your points total.

What if I can't submit on time?

If you know you're going to miss a deadline, the best approach is to:

• Submit as soon as possible after the deadline — don't wait
• Keep records of why the submission was late in case you need to appeal
• Contact HMRC if you have a genuine reasonable excuse
• Make sure all future submissions are on time to prevent points building up

The 2026 MTD ITSA deadline calendar

To make it easy, here are all the key MTD ITSA dates for the 2026/27 tax year:

• 5 August 2026 — Q1 submission due (April to July)
• 5 November 2026 — Q2 submission due (July to October)
• 5 February 2027 — Q3 submission due (October to January)
• 5 May 2027 — Q4 submission due (January to April)
• 31 January 2027 — Final declaration due for 2025/26 tax year

How TaxChill manages your MTD deadlines

With TaxChill, you don't need to track any of this yourself. We manage the entire submission calendar on your behalf:

• We prepare your quarterly update in advance of each deadline
• We send it to you for review and approval
• Once approved, we submit directly to HMRC before the deadline
• We keep records of every submission so you always have a clear audit trail

You'll never miss a deadline, never accumulate penalty points, and never face a surprise fine. Find out more about how TaxChill works and which plan suits you.

Frequently asked questions about MTD ITSA deadlines

Do I need to submit if I have nothing to report?

Yes. Even if you had no income or expenses in a quarter, you are still required to submit a nil return by the deadline. Missing it still earns you a penalty point.

What if my accounting period doesn't run April to April?

Most sole traders use the standard April to April tax year. If your accounting period is different, your quarterly deadlines will be adjusted accordingly. HMRC will confirm your specific dates when you register for MTD.

Are the deadlines the same for landlords?

Yes — landlords with income over £50,000 are also subject to MTD ITSA from April 2026, with the same quarterly deadlines and penalty system applying.

Can I submit early?

Yes. You can submit your quarterly update as soon as the quarter ends — you don't have to wait until the deadline. Submitting early is good practice and gives you a buffer if anything goes wrong.

Will HMRC remind me about the deadlines?

HMRC may send reminders, but you shouldn't rely on them. Using a bookkeeping service like TaxChill means the deadlines are managed for you as part of the service.

Want to make sure your MTD submissions are always on time? Book a free call with us and we'll get you set up well before your next deadline.