When landlords are affected
- April 2026 — gross rental (plus any self-employment) income over £50,000 (in effect now)
- April 2027 — over £30,000
- April 2028 — over £20,000
The first quarterly update for the 2026 group covered 6 April – 5 July 2026 and was due 7 August 2026. If you're already in this wave, your next update covers 6 April – 5 October 2026 and is due 7 November 2026.
It's based on gross rent, not profit
The threshold looks at your gross rental income — the rent before expenses such as mortgage interest, agent fees and repairs — combined with any self-employment income. So many landlords with modest profits are still inside MTD because their gross rents are high.
What landlords need to do
Set up your HMRC personal tax account and Self Assessment, register for MTD, use compatible software to keep digital records of rents and expenses, and file quarterly. If you have several properties or a busy schedule, letting us handle registration and filing keeps it simple.
Your four quarterly deadlines in full
Once in MTD you file four quarterly updates plus a year-end tax return. Using the standard quarters, the schedule is:
- Q1 — 6 Apr to 5 Jul — due 7 August
- Q2 — 6 Jul to 5 Oct — due 7 November
- Q3 — 6 Oct to 5 Jan — due 7 February
- Q4 — 6 Jan to 5 Apr — due 7 May
- Self Assessment tax return — due 31 January after the tax year ends
The mortgage finance-cost tax reduction and other property adjustments are applied at the tax return, not in the quarterly updates.
The 2026 to 2027 quarterly-update penalty easing
Landlords mandated from 6 April 2026 will not receive penalty points for late quarterly updates during the 2026 to 2027 tax year. This easing does not cover late payment of tax, so still aim to file and pay on time.
What happens if you miss a deadline
Outside the easing, each missed update earns a penalty point; four points triggers a £200 penalty, repeating for further lateness. Late payment of tax is charged separately with interest. If you have already missed one, file as soon as possible — or let us catch you up.
We file landlord MTD for you
Call 0114 327 1480 or email shjenquiry@msc-g.com and we’ll register you and file your quarterly updates before the deadline.