The Quarterly Periods
The standard quarterly periods align with the tax year:[1]
| Quarter | Period | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 April – 5 July | 7 August |
| Q2 | 6 July – 5 October | 7 November |
| Q3 | 6 October – 5 January | 7 February |
| Q4 | 6 January – 5 April | 7 May |
You can choose calendar quarters (ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December) if you prefer.
What’s in a Quarterly Update?
Each update includes a summary of your business income and expenses for the quarter:[2]
- Total income received (or invoiced, depending on your accounting method)
- Total expenses by category
You don’t need to submit individual receipts or invoices — just the summarised totals.
How to Submit
Quarterly updates are submitted through your MTD-compatible software. The software sends the data to HMRC via their API. Most software will prompt you when an update is due. With HMRC-recognised software such as GoFile, you can submit your quarterly updates online in a few clicks.[1]
Multiple Income Sources
If you have both self-employment and property income, you submit separate quarterly updates for each. Your software may handle both or you may need to use different software for each.[2]
Record-Keeping Requirements
Your digital records must include:[3]
- Date, amount, and category of each income and expense transaction
- Records must be kept digitally (not on paper, then typed in at quarter-end)
- Digital links between software systems if you use more than one tool
Don’t leave it to the last minute: If you keep your records up to date throughout the quarter, submitting the update takes minutes. The quarterly deadline is really just a prompt to keep your records current.
Making Corrections
You can amend a quarterly update at any time before your final declaration. Simply submit an updated set of figures for that quarter through your software.[2]
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the MTD quarterly update deadlines?
Using standard tax-year quarters, deadlines are 7 August (Q1), 7 November (Q2), 7 February (Q3), and 7 May (Q4). You can also choose calendar quarter end dates.
What do I include in an MTD quarterly update?
Each update includes a summary of your total business income and total expenses by category for the quarter. You do not need to submit individual receipts or invoices.
Do I need to send separate quarterly updates for each business?
Yes. If you have both self-employment and property income, you submit separate quarterly updates for each income source.
Can I correct an MTD quarterly update after submission?
Yes. You can amend a quarterly update at any time before submitting your final declaration by resubmitting the figures through your MTD software.
Further Reading
Looking for simple Income Tax MTD software?
#GoFile is HMRC-recognised and trusted by 50,000+ UK businesses. Set up in minutes, file with confidence.
Get Started For FreeNo credit card required · Cancel anytime
Sources
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — GOV.UK
- Quarterly updates for MTD — GOV.UK
- Keeping digital records for MTD — GOV.UK