MTD quarterly update deadlines: the dates and what you actually send
Under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax you report four times a year, not once. Here are the deadlines, what each update contains, and how to make sure you never miss one.
The four quarterly deadlines
Using the standard quarterly periods, the update covers the tax year to the end of each quarter, and is due one month and two days after the quarter ends:
| Quarter | Period covered | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 April – 5 July | 7 August |
| Q2 | 6 April – 5 October | 7 November |
| Q3 | 6 April – 5 January | 7 February |
| Q4 | 6 April – 5 April | 7 May |
What a quarterly update actually is
A common misunderstanding: the quarterly update is not your final tax return, and it doesn't need to be perfect. It's a cumulative summary of your income and expenses for each business, from the start of the tax year to the end of that quarter. Because it's cumulative, each update supersedes the last — if you correct an earlier figure, the next update simply carries the corrected running total.
You don't claim reliefs or make final adjustments here. Those happen at the year-end Final Declaration, which replaces the old Self Assessment return.
What if you miss a deadline?
MTD uses a points-based system: each missed submission earns a penalty point, and a financial penalty follows once you reach the threshold for your filing frequency. Points also expire over time if you then file on time. The practical takeaway is simple — late updates accumulate risk, so the goal is to make quarterly filing routine and low-effort rather than a scramble.
Standard vs calendar quarters
The dates above are the standard quarters (aligned to the 6 April tax year). HMRC also allows calendar quarters (ending 30 June, 30 September, 31 December, 31 March) if you elect for them. Most spreadsheet users stay on standard quarters — it's the default and keeps things simple.
How to never miss one
The reliable approach is software that shows the quarter you're in, counts down to the deadline, and reminds you before each one — so filing is a five-minute routine, not a diary risk.
A deadline countdown built into your spreadsheet
SheetMTD shows the quarter you're in, the records it contains, and a live countdown to the next deadline — with reminder emails before all four. Once HMRC recognition completes, you file that quarter from the sidebar in one click. Record-keeping is free.
See how it works & join the list →General information about MTD for Income Tax deadlines, not personal tax advice. Penalty rules and dates can change — check GOV.UK or your accountant. See also our guide to MTD on a spreadsheet.