Every Making Tax Digital deadline for landlords

Under Making Tax Digital you have a handful of dates to keep each year: four quarterly updates and one final declaration. Here they all are.

The four quarterly updates

Each update covers a three-month period and is due about five weeks after the period ends. The standard dates are:

• Quarter 1 (6 April to 5 July): due 7 August
• Quarter 2 (6 July to 5 October): due 7 November
• Quarter 3 (6 October to 5 January): due 7 February
• Quarter 4 (6 January to 5 April): due 7 May

Each update is cumulative: you send the running total for the year so far, not just the quarter on its own. If you spot a mistake later, you simply resend the corrected total.

The calendar option

If you'd rather your quarters line up with calendar months, you can choose “calendar update periods” instead (1 April to 30 June, and so on). The deadlines are the same. You pick this once, before your first update, and it stays for the year.

The final declaration

After the tax year ends on 5 April, you confirm everything is complete and correct. This is the final declaration, and it's due by 31 January the following year, the same date Self Assessment returns have always been due. Your tax is also payable by 31 January.

What happens if you're late

Missing a quarterly update doesn't trigger an instant fine. HMRC uses a points system: you get a point each time you miss a deadline, and once you reach four points you get a £200 penalty. Points eventually expire if you stay compliant. It's designed to be forgiving of the odd slip, but it pays to keep on top of them.

The easy way to never miss one

Quarterwise totals your records up to each period end automatically and emails you well before every deadline, so the update is ready to review and send in a couple of minutes. No diary reminders, no last-minute maths.