A quarterly update is a summary of what’s happened so far in the tax year, sent to HMRC using compatible software.

HMRC’s own guidance is clear on two things:

First, you send quarterly updates every 3 months.
Second, you send them for each self employment and property income source.

That sounds technical, but in real life it normally means this: if you are a sole trader and also a landlord, you do not just have “one update”. The updates reflect those different income streams, which is why the initial setup matters.

If you’re in the first wave starting from 6 April 2026, the quarterly update deadlines HMRC publish are:

Quarter 1 (6 April to 5 July 2026): due 7 August 2026
Quarter 2 (6 July to 5 October 2026): due 7 November 2026
Quarter 3 (6 October 2026 to 5 January 2027): due 7 February 2027
Quarter 4 (6 January to 5 April 2027): due 7 May 2027

The simple pattern is this: it’s the 7th of the month after the quarter ends. Once you see that rhythm, it becomes much less stressful.

If you’re the sort of person who likes to see the official dates in black and white, HMRC list them here.

Quarterly updates are based on your digital records, meaning the income and expenses you’ve recorded in your software.

What you are not doing each quarter:

You are not finalising your tax bill.
You are not doing all your year end adjustments.
You are not filing a full Self Assessment return four times a year.

What you are doing:

You’re keeping your records digital and up to date.
You’re sending HMRC a quarterly snapshot through your software.

One detail people find reassuring: HMRC’s guidance explains that the update periods make it easier to correct errors through the year, and you do not need to resubmit the original update just because you corrected something later.

This question comes up constantly, so I’ll be blunt.

Quarterly updates are reporting deadlines, not payment deadlines.

Your tax payment dates still follow the Self Assessment timetable. The MTD change is about how records are kept and how reporting is done through the year, not suddenly paying four times a year.

What quarterly updates can do, in a good way, is reduce surprises. If your records are current, you have a much better grip on what your profit is doing and what tax might be coming, well before January.

MTD does not remove the year end. It changes how you get there.

HMRC’s MTD campaign guidance still talks about submitting your tax return by 31 January each year, but the idea is that it is done straight from your software rather than the old style “do it all at once” approach.

So the way I explain it is:

Quarterly updates keep the year tidy.
The year end finalisation is where everything is properly confirmed.

We’ll cover the year end steps in a later episode. For now, I just want you to know the quarterly updates are not the final answer. They are part of the journey.

Most people struggle with MTD for one simple reason. They try to do the entire quarter in one horrible sitting.

A calmer approach is a light routine through the quarter, so the deadline is just a final step, not a rescue mission.

This is the routine that tends to work for real people:

Once a week, forward invoices or upload them to your software.
Once a month, check bank transactions are matched and categorised.
At the quarter end, you’re mostly reviewing and pressing submit, not rebuilding months of records.

If you’re already thinking “I will never keep up with that”, that’s a sign you either need a simpler setup, or you want someone to run the process for you.

If you’re a sole trader or landlord around Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Solihull, Burton, or the wider West Midlands, the pattern we see is always the same.

You’re busy. You’re good at your work. The admin gets parked until it becomes urgent.

MTD rewards the opposite approach. A basic setup and a simple rhythm.

If you want us to take ownership of the quarterly routine so you stay compliant without it taking over your life, get in touch here.

If you want this handled properly, our job is to remove the mental load and keep it tidy.

Typically, we:

Confirm whether you’re in scope and when you start.
Get you set up on compatible software, with a process you’ll actually stick to.
Check records are being captured correctly through the quarter.
Do a quarterly tidy up and sense check.
Submit the quarterly updates and keep you ahead of deadlines.

If you want help with the setup and the ongoing quarterly rhythm, get in touch here.

Are quarterly updates the same as four tax returns?
No. Quarterly updates are updates based on your digital records through the year. The year end finalisation is where things are properly confirmed.

When is the first quarterly update due if I start from April 2026?
The first quarterly update deadline is 7 August 2026.

Do I send separate updates for my rental income and my sole trade?
HMRC guidance says quarterly updates are sent for each self employment and property income source.

Do I need software for this?
Yes. You need compatible software to keep digital records and send quarterly updates. HMRC list compatible software here.

If you are a landlord or sole trader and you think you might be affected, we can confirm whether you are in scope and build a simple plan so this does not become a headache.

Use our MTD page to get in touch: Making Tax Digital support.

Coming next: Episode 4, what digital records actually means in real life.