The first Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax quarterly deadline is fast approaching. Income Tax customers have 7 August,2026 as the deadline for submitting their first quarterly update to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
If you are required to submit a quarterly update to HMRC, it is important not to leave the filing until the last-minute.
The quarterly update covers the time period from 6 April to 5 July. Delay in the submission of the filing can cause you unnecessary stress, record errors, and compliance issues.
Here’s everything that you need to know about the MTD deadline 7 August and how to submit your first quarterly update to HMRC.
What Is The MTD Deadline On 7 August?
The 7 August deadline is the due date for the first quarterly update under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax to HMRC.
Under this new system launched by HMRC, eligible taxpayers have to submit digital summaries of their business and property income every quarter using HMRC-compliant software.
The first Quarterly submission covers the period from 6 April to 5 July, and the last submission date is 7 August 2026; the type of submission should be digital, with no due tax payments.
It is very important to understand that a quarterly update is not your annual Self Assessment tax return. It simply means providing an overview of your income and expenses during the quarter.
Why Is This Deadline Important?
Even though the August deadline doesn’t involve tax payment, meeting the deadline is important as it keeps your tax records up to date. Submitting the update on time can help you with:
- Staying compliant with the HMRC requirements.
- Maintaining the proper records of the income and expenses.
- Escaping the frustration and issues caused by last-minute submission.
- Spotting the mistake and correct it.
Being organised and accurate can make it easier for you to manage tax, while missing the submission can affect your compliance and cause you a penalty as well.
What You Should Know Before Filling?
Before making the filing, ensure you are eligible for the MTD requirement and, if you are eligible, make sure that your financial records are up to date. In your records, ensure you have:
- Digital bookkeeping records
- Details of Business income
- Allowable business expenses on rent and travel
- Sales and purchase invoices
- Bank transaction records
- HMRC-recognised MTD software
This can help you to keep records organised, and your future quarterly updates will be quicker.
How to Submit Your First MTD Quarterly Update?
You can fill in the MTD quarterly update by following a few simple steps.
STEP 1: Check if MTD Applies to You
First, you need to check if your income meets the threshold set by HMRC and whether you need to submit a quarterly update.
STEP 2: Register for MTD
If you are a fresher or haven’t registered for MTD, complete the registration before attempting to submit the update.
STEP 3: Use HMRC-compliant Software
The old Self-Assessment filing method can’t be used for MTD submissions. For quarterly update submissions, it is important to have software that is compliant for Making Tax Digital.
STEP 4: Check everything before you submit
Reviewing is very important to ensure that the income and expenses record is correct and there are no errors.
STEP 5: Submit the Updates Before 7 August
If you submit before the deadline without waiting for last-minute submission, you will get time to correct errors, if any and resolve software issues if they arise.
Common Last-Minute Filing Mistakes
Many first-time MTD users make some common mistakes by leaving the filings for last-minute. Here are the mistakes that should be avoided:
- Leaving everything until the deadline
Many first-time users underestimate the time taken for submission. Internet issues, software updates, and missing paperwork can turn the task into stressful one.
- Incomplete records
Missing information and invoices may result in an inaccurate update submission.
- Forgetting to include rental income
Landlords need to include qualifying property income where applicable.
- Misclassified expenses
Incorrect expense category may affect the accuracy of your records and cause unexpected errors.
- Assuming someone else has already submitted it
Don’t assume that someone else has filed the update, as leaving responsibility for someone else can lead to a missed deadline. So always confirm the submission before the deadline.
What Happens If You Miss The 7 August Deadline?
Missing the deadline doesn’t automatically mean you will receive an immediate tax bill, but it can create unnecessary complications like:
- Compliance issues with HMRC
- Increased pressure for future quarterly update submissions
- Making year-end reporting more complex
If you want to avoid these issues, make sure you submit the updates on time and if you realise that there can be difficulty in meeting the deadline, seeking a professional’s advice is important.
How an Accountant can help with Last-Minute MTD Filing?
If this is your first experience preparing your quarterly update submission and Making Tax Digital, it’s normal to have questions. You can get confused about the rules and feel overwhelmed. An experienced accountant can help you with:
- Adjusting the digital bookkeeping
- Confirming whether you are eligible for MTD’s quarterly submissions or not
- Setting up the HMRC-compliant software
- Registering your business for MTD
- Correcting the errors in records, if any
- Preparing and submitting the quarterly updates
- Supporting you throughout the year for HMRC compliance.
This can save you time and ensure that the submission is accurate.
Why Choose Lexarox for MTD Support?
The move to Making Tax Digital has introduced a different way of keeping records and reporting income to HMRC. If you haven’t got the time to organise your quarterly updates or you are confused about the software setup, and update submission, Lexarox provides you with assistance while reducing unnecessary stress.
Conclusion
The first quarterly update under Making Tax Digital covers the period from 6 April to 5 July 2026. The deadline issued for submission of these first-time quarterly updates is 7 August 2026. The submission of the quarterly updates is important, even if there is no tax payment. Seeking a professional accountant’s help such as Lexarox can help you if you are facing problem in MTD quarterly update submission, so that you can focus more on your business than the updates submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MTD deadline of 7 August?
MTD deadline of 7 August is the last date for submission of the first quarterly update under Making Tax Digital, reporting period from 6 April to 5 July.
Do I have to pay tax on 7 August?
No. The deadline is for quarterly update submission, i.e. the submission of records, not the tax payment.
Why should I file before the deadline?
Early submission will allow you to fix errors and ensure accurate submission.
Can I file without the accounting software?
No. The submission requires use of an HMRC-compliant software.
Is a quarterly update and Self-Assessment tax return the same?
No. Both quarterly update submissions and self-assessment tax returns aren’t the same. A self-assessment tax return is used for reporting an individual’s income to HMRC for deciding annual tax payments, and a Quarterly update submission is the submission of a quarter’s income and expense summary.
How can Lexarox help with MTD?
Lexarox can provide you with an accountant for help in record-keeping, quarterly update submissions, and registration for MTD with HMRC-compliant software.
