Mandatory from April 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

MTD ITSA is HMRC's initiative to modernise tax reporting. If you're self-employed or a landlord, you'll need to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates. Here's everything you need to know.

Key Dates

April 2026

Self-employed & Landlords (£50k+)

MTD ITSA becomes mandatory for self-employed individuals and landlords with gross income over £50,000.

April 2027

Income Threshold Lowered (£30k+)

Requirement extends to those with gross income between £30,000 and £50,000.

TBC

Further Expansion

HMRC may lower thresholds further. Those under £30k can voluntarily sign up now.

Who Must Comply?

MTD ITSA applies to self-employed individuals and landlords whose income exceeds certain thresholds.

Self-Employed

Sole traders with trading income over £50,000 (from April 2026)

Landlords

Property landlords with rental income over £50,000 (from April 2026)

Combined Income

Those whose combined self-employment and property income exceeds the threshold

Note: Partnership income and company directors are currently excluded. Employment income (PAYE) is not affected. You can voluntarily sign up early to get familiar with the process.

Key Requirements

What you'll need to do under MTD ITSA

Digital Record Keeping

You must keep digital records of all business income and expenses using MTD-compatible software.

Quarterly Updates

Submit a summary of your income and expenses to HMRC every quarter (within 1 month of quarter end).

End of Period Statement (EOPS)

Submit a final summary for each income source by 31 January following the tax year end.

Final Declaration

Submit your final tax calculation and pay any tax due by 31 January following the tax year end.

Quarterly Deadlines

Submit your quarterly update within 1 month of each quarter ending

QuarterPeriodSubmission Deadline
Q16 April - 5 July5 August
Q26 July - 5 October5 November
Q36 October - 5 January5 February
Q46 January - 5 April5 May

Penalties for Non-Compliance

HMRC will apply penalties for late or inaccurate submissions

Late quarterly update
Penalty points system (4 points = £200 fine)
Late annual submission
Initial £100, then daily penalties
Late payment
Interest charges plus late payment penalties
Inaccurate information
Up to 100% of the tax undercharged

How TaxStats Source Helps

TaxStats Source is MTD ITSA compatible software that makes compliance simple. Upload your documents, let AI categorise them, and submit directly to HMRC.

  • HMRC-recognised MTD software
  • Automatic quarterly calculations
  • Direct API submission to HMRC
  • Deadline reminders & alerts
  • Full audit trail for records
  • AI-powered categorisation
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