Your Making Tax Digital quarterly deadlines
Pick your tax year and whether you use standard or calendar quarters, and see the four quarterly update deadlines and the tax return deadline. Then add them to your calendar in one click.
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Add the dates to your calendar
Based on the gov.uk rules
How the quarterly deadlines work
Under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax you send four quarterly updates a year, due on 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. The May update falls after the tax year has ended.
Each update covers the tax year so far, not just the latest three months. That is why HMRC lists the update periods as 6 April to 5 July, then 6 April to 5 October, and so on.
You can send an update any time from the end of its period up to the deadline. You can also send it up to 10 days before the period ends, if you do not expect any more transactions.
After the fourth update you submit your tax return, also called the final declaration, by 31 January after the tax year ends. For 2026-27 that is 31 January 2028.
Standard or calendar quarters
Standard quarters
Follow the tax year: 6 April to 5 July, 6 July to 5 October, 6 October to 5 January and 6 January to 5 April. You use these unless you choose otherwise.
Calendar quarters
Follow the months: 1 April to 30 June, 1 July to 30 September, 1 October to 31 December and 1 January to 31 March. Handy if your bank statements run by the month.
The same deadlines
Calendar quarters move the end of each period, not the deadline. Either way, the updates are due on 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May.
Choosing
Select calendar quarters in your software before your first update of the year. They carry on until you change back, and you cannot change once an update for that year is sent.
Before you rely on these dates
Your own obligations come first
These are the deadlines gov.uk sets out for everyone. Your software shows the obligations HMRC holds for you, and if they ever differ, follow those.
Late updates
For 2026-27, HMRC does not give penalty points for late quarterly updates. From 2027-28, each late update can earn a point, and at 4 points HMRC charges a £200 penalty.
The dates come from gov.uk: Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: send quarterly updates.
Straight answers
When are the MTD quarterly update deadlines?
7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. For 2026-27 that is 7 August 2026, 7 November 2026, 7 February 2027 and 7 May 2027. Each update covers the tax year so far, not just the latest three months.
Do calendar quarters change my deadlines?
No. Calendar quarters end on 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March instead of the 5th of the month, but the updates are still due on 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May.
When is the final declaration due?
By 31 January after the end of the tax year, the same date the Self Assessment return has always been due. For 2026-27 that is 31 January 2028, and for 2027-28 it is 31 January 2029.
Can I send a quarterly update early?
Yes, from the end of the update period. You can also send it up to 10 days before the period ends if you do not expect to record any more transactions in it, which helps if you are going away.
What happens if I miss a quarterly update deadline?
For 2026-27, HMRC does not give penalty points for late quarterly updates, though you must still send all four before your tax return. From 2027-28, each late update can earn a point, and 4 points means a £200 penalty.
Does the calendar download send my details anywhere?
No. The calendar file is made in your browser from the tax year and quarters you pick. There is nothing to type in about you, and nothing is sent to FileThat or anyone else.
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