The Making Tax Digital deadline 2026 for the second quarterly update is just over a fortnight away. If you’re a sole trader or landlord within MTD for Income Tax, you need to send HMRC a cumulative update of your income and expenses through compatible software. This guide explains exactly what is due, what to prepare and how to submit with confidence.
Staying on top of this is far easier with the right support. Many owners now rely on accounting and bookkeeping services and tax return services in London to keep records current and filings on time. Whether you handle MTD compliance for businesses yourself or delegate it, preparation is what protects you.
Good records are the foundation of every submission. Professional Bookkeeping and Accounting Services can bring your books up to date, while cash flow management and forecasting in London helps you plan for the tax bill that follows. Both make small business tax compliance much less stressful.
What Is Due on 7 November?
This MTD deadline November 2026 is the second quarterly update. The update is due by 7 November 2026. Under the standard update periods it covers 6 April to 5 October 2026 as a running total. If you chose calendar quarters instead, the period is 1 April to 30 September, with the same deadline.
A few things to know straight away:
- It falls on a Saturday. The deadline is Saturday 7 November, and there’s no weekend extension, so aim to submit by Friday 6 November. HMRC has confirmed extra helpline support around the deadline.
- It isn’t a tax payment. Under MTD you send quarterly summaries of income and expenses, but you do not pay tax quarterly. This is quarterly tax reporting, not a bill.
- It isn’t a tax return. The update reports business figures only, so don’t confuse it with the tax return submission deadline in January.
For anyone checking the Making Tax Digital November deadline against their diary, the HMRC MTD deadlines 2026 to remember are 7 November, then 7 February and 7 May.
Who Must Submit Now?
The update applies to those already signed up to MTD for Income Tax. The Making Tax Digital requirements 2026 are simple in scope: MTD began on 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000, and the threshold falls to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Limited company profits are outside MTD for Income Tax, though a director’s personal self-employment or rental income could still count.
Not sure whether you’re in scope? HMRC’s online checker takes a few minutes and also covers exemptions. If you’ve been mandated and haven’t signed up or submitted anything, deal with that first. Reading the Making Tax Digital requirements early, and checking HMRC Making Tax Digital guidance, avoids nasty surprises.
Read More: Making Tax Digital vs. Self Assessment: What Changes for Your January Tax Return?
What You Must Submit Now
The update is a summary, not a transaction-by-transaction report. It includes category totals only, not individual receipts. These business tax submission requirements are what you’ll need:
For self-employed income:
- turnover and any other business income
- allowable expenses by category, such as costs of goods, travel, premises, staff, office costs and professional fees
For property income:
- rental income received
- allowable property expenses, such as repairs, agent fees and insurance
For both:
- figures for the whole period since 6 April, not just the latest quarter
- amounts reconciled to your bank accounts and records
Every update is cumulative, covering the year to date, so figures you submitted in August will be included again within the new totals.
Strong MTD digital record keeping underpins all of this. The Digital bookkeeping requirements are straightforward: keep records digitally, in compatible software, with no manual re-keying between disconnected files. An accounting service in London can set this up quickly if your books aren’t ready.
Read More: Missed the MTD Deadline? Here’s What to Do Before 7 November
What You Don’t Need to Submit or Pay
Some worries are unnecessary:
- No tax payment is due with the update.
- No receipts or invoices are uploaded to HMRC, though you must keep them.
- No final calculation is required. Quarterly updates are not final tax calculations; your final declaration determines your official tax position.
- No perfect accuracy is demanded. Figures can be corrected in later updates, and nothing needs to be final until the year-end declaration.
That said, “can be corrected” shouldn’t become “can be careless”. Accurate records now mean fewer corrections later, and tax return accountants in London can review your figures before you submit.
What If You Missed the August Deadline?
You can still catch up, and this update helps. Because every update is cumulative, a later update also meets the earlier obligation, and HMRC’s guidance confirms the second update satisfies both Q1 and Q2. So your 7 November submission is the natural way to get back on track.
It’s worth acting soon. ICAEW understands that HMRC intends to contact taxpayers who have signed up for MTD but are yet to submit their first-quarter update. If this MTD submission deadline 2026 has caught you out, accounting services for small business owners can help you recover quickly.
Read More: Making Tax Digital in 2026: What the First Quarterly Deadline Revealed — And What Comes Next
What About VAT? A Quick Clarification
MTD for VAT is a separate regime that has applied to VAT-registered businesses for some time. Your MTD VAT return submission follows its own cycle, so don’t confuse it with the Income Tax update. In general, each VAT return deadline falls one month and seven days after the end of the VAT period. If you want to double-check the VAT return filing process or your VAT filing requirements, use HMRC’s guidance for your scheme, because they depend on your VAT periods.
Read More: Making Tax Digital: Are You Ready for the November 2026 Deadline?
Accounting for the Construction and CIS Industry
Builders, contractors and subcontractors often have the trickiest MTD position. Income can arrive net of CIS deductions, expenses cover materials, tools, vehicles and subcontractor payments, and cash flow is lumpy. If you work in construction, our Accounting for Construction & CIS Industry service is designed for you. It covers CIS deductions, subcontractor records, quarterly updates and year-end reporting, so your MTD submission reflects what you were actually paid.
How Fred Michael & Co Can Help
At Fred Michael & Co, we help sole traders and landlords across Barking and London meet their MTD obligations without the stress. We can check whether MTD applies to you, set up and connect compatible software, bring your records up to date, prepare and submit your quarterly update, and plan your cash flow for the tax bill ahead. If you don’t have a finance lead, a virtual finance director in London can give you board-level insight without the full-time cost. Our accounting and bookkeeping services and Bookkeeping and Accounting Services keep you ready all year.
Final Thoughts
The 7 November deadline is manageable if you start now. Know your update period, make sure your records are complete and reconciled, and submit a cumulative update through compatible software by Friday 6 November. You won’t pay tax with it, you won’t upload receipts, and you can correct mistakes later. But the update is still compulsory, and the penalty-free period ends in April 2027. Treat this deadline as practice for the stricter regime ahead, and make MTD compliance 2026 a habit rather than a scramble.
Not sure what to submit before 7 November? Contact Fred Michael & Co Ltd today. We offer an accounting service in London, tax return services in London, Tax Planning services in London and cash flow management and forecasting in London, with specialist accounting for the construction and CIS industry. Our team of tax return accountants in London will review your records, prepare your quarterly update and make sure it’s filed on time. Get in touch now to book your MTD review, and outsource tax preparation services in London with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MTD deadline on 7 November 2026?
The 7 November 2026 deadline is for the second quarterly update under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Sole traders and landlords must send HMRC a cumulative summary of income and expenses through compatible software. Since it falls on a Saturday, you should aim to submit by Friday 6 November.
Who must submit an MTD quarterly update now?
Anyone already signed up to MTD for Income Tax must submit, meaning sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Limited company profits are outside scope, though a director’s personal rental or self-employment income may count.
What period does the November MTD update cover?
Under standard update periods, it covers 6 April to 5 October 2026 as a running total. If you chose calendar quarters, the period runs from 1 April to 30 September. Either way, the deadline is 7 November 2026, and the figures must fully include everything since the tax year began.
Do I pay tax with the MTD quarterly update?
No. Quarterly updates are reporting only, not payments. You send summaries of income and expenses, but no tax is due with them. Your final tax position is decided by the end-of-year final declaration. Payment dates remain unchanged, so keep setting money aside throughout the year for your eventual tax bill.
What happens if I missed the August MTD deadline?
You can still catch up. Because every update is cumulative, your 7 November submission also satisfies the earlier obligation, and HMRC guidance confirms the second update covers both Q1 and Q2. Act soon, as HMRC intends to contact taxpayers who signed up but have yet to submit their first-quarter update.
What do I need to include in my MTD quarterly update?
Include category totals, not individual receipts. Self-employed users report turnover and allowable expenses; landlords report rental income and property expenses like repairs, agent fees and insurance. Figures must cover the whole period since 6 April and reconcile to your bank accounts and records. Keep receipts; HMRC doesn’t need any uploads.
