Quarterly Updates Under MTD for Income Tax

Standard Quarters vs Calendar Quarter Election

Under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT), businesses will be required to submit quarterly updates to HMRC.

These quarterly updates apply regardless of a business’s accounting period. Even if your accounts are prepared to a different year-end, the MTD quarterly reporting periods still apply.

Standard Quarters (Default Position)

By default, quarterly updates must follow the standard tax year quarters, which align with the UK tax year (6 April to 5 April).

The standard quarters are:

  • 6 April to 5 July

  • 6 July to 5 October

  • 6 October to 5 January

  • 6 January to 5 April

These apply automatically unless a business elects otherwise.

Calendar Quarter Election

Businesses will have the option to elect to report using calendar quarters instead of standard tax year quarters.

The calendar quarters are:

  • 1 April to 30 June

  • 1 July to 30 September

  • 1 October to 31 December

  • 1 January to 31 March

This election can simplify bookkeeping, particularly for businesses already aligned to calendar month reporting or VAT quarters.

Quarterly Update Deadlines

Quarterly updates must be submitted by the 7th of the second month following the end of the quarter.

The submission deadlines are:

  • 7 August

  • 7 November

  • 7 February

  • 7 May

These deadlines apply following the end of the relevant quarter.


Because calendar quarters end on the last day of a month (e.g. 30 June instead of 5 July), businesses that elect for calendar quarters effectively gain an additional five days before the deadline.


For example:

  • Standard quarter ending 5 July → deadline 7 August

  • Calendar quarter ending 30 June → deadline 7 August

This creates a slightly longer preparation window for calendar quarter reporters.

Key Points to Remember

  • Quarterly updates are mandatory under MTD IT.

  • They apply irrespective of your accounting year-end.

  • Standard tax year quarters are the default.

  • Businesses may elect to use calendar quarters instead.

  • All quarterly updates are due by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May.