THE PROPERTY FILTER TAKE
HMRC has issued a special Agent Update to guide tax agents through the first quarterly filing under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, covering 6 April to 5 July 2026.
Landlords with gross income over £50,000 who entered the regime from April 2026 must submit their first quarterly update now; this is a compliance deadline, not optional.
Speak to your accountant to confirm your software is set up correctly and your first quarterly submission is on track.
The first quarterly reporting deadline under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) is now due. HMRC published a special edition of its Agent Update on 7 July 2026. It gives tax agents and landlords the guidance needed to complete and send the first submission, covering 6 April to 5 July 2026.
This filing obligation applies to landlords and self-employed people with gross income over £50,000, who entered the MTD ITSA regime from April 2026.
What the HMRC Agent Update covers
HMRC's special edition Agent Update sets out everything needed to complete and file a first quarterly update. It includes guidance videos, helpful links, and top tips from agents who have already filed their first returns.
The Quarter 1 filing window is open. If your gross rental income exceeds £50,000 and you joined MTD ITSA from April 2026, your tax agent, or you using HMRC-compatible software, should be submitting now.
MTD ITSA applies across the UK. Landlords in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all within scope if they meet the income threshold. You will find guidance on choosing compliant software and setting up digital records in our business and portfolio operations resources.
The regime replaces the single annual Self Assessment return with four quarterly digital reports. Each update is a summary of income and expenses only. No tax payment is due at the quarterly stage.
A worked example
The number that matters here is your gross income. Take a landlord earning £65,000 per year from three buy-to-let (BTL) properties, who entered MTD ITSA from 6 April 2026.
Their quarterly schedule:
For Q1, this landlord submits a digital summary of three months of rental income and allowable expenses. No tax is payable at this point. HMRC calculates the final liability at year end, with any balance due by 31 January 2028.
What changes for landlords below the threshold
The income threshold drops over the next two years. Landlords with gross income between £30,000 and £50,000 must join MTD ITSA from April 2027. Those with income between £20,000 and £30,000 follow from April 2028.
If you are below the current threshold, now is a sensible time to choose compliant software and start keeping digital records. Our free landlord resources include guides on keeping your property finances organised. You can also run our rental income stress-test calculator to see where your income sits against the entry thresholds.
Speak to your accountant to confirm whether you are within scope, which software fits your situation, and whether your Q1 filing is on track.
Key takeaways
• The first MTD ITSA quarterly deadline covers 6 April to 5 July 2026 and applies to landlords with gross income over £50,000.
• HMRC's special Agent Update, published 7 July 2026, includes filing tips from agents who have already submitted.
• MTD ITSA applies UK-wide, covering England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
• Landlords with gross income between £30,000 and £50,000 must join from April 2027; those in the £20,000-£30,000 band from April 2028.
• Quarterly updates are a reporting obligation only. Tax remains due by 31 January following the tax year end.
The first quarterly reporting deadline under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) is now due. HMRC published a special edition of its Agent Update on 7 July 2026. It gives tax agents and landlords the guidance needed to complete and send the first submission, covering 6 April to 5 July 2026.
This filing obligation applies to landlords and self-employed people with gross income over £50,000, who entered the MTD ITSA regime from April 2026.
What the HMRC Agent Update covers
HMRC's special edition Agent Update sets out everything needed to complete and file a first quarterly update. It includes guidance videos, helpful links, and top tips from agents who have already filed their first returns.
The Quarter 1 filing window is open. If your gross rental income exceeds £50,000 and you joined MTD ITSA from April 2026, your tax agent, or you using HMRC-compatible software, should be submitting now.
MTD ITSA applies across the UK. Landlords in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all within scope if they meet the income threshold. You will find guidance on choosing compliant software and setting up digital records in our business and portfolio operations resources.
The regime replaces the single annual Self Assessment return with four quarterly digital reports. Each update is a summary of income and expenses only. No tax payment is due at the quarterly stage.
A worked example
The number that matters here is your gross income. Take a landlord earning £65,000 per year from three buy-to-let (BTL) properties, who entered MTD ITSA from 6 April 2026.
Their quarterly schedule:
For Q1, this landlord submits a digital summary of three months of rental income and allowable expenses. No tax is payable at this point. HMRC calculates the final liability at year end, with any balance due by 31 January 2028.
What changes for landlords below the threshold
The income threshold drops over the next two years. Landlords with gross income between £30,000 and £50,000 must join MTD ITSA from April 2027. Those with income between £20,000 and £30,000 follow from April 2028.
If you are below the current threshold, now is a sensible time to choose compliant software and start keeping digital records. Our free landlord resources include guides on keeping your property finances organised. You can also run our rental income stress-test calculator to see where your income sits against the entry thresholds.
Speak to your accountant to confirm whether you are within scope, which software fits your situation, and whether your Q1 filing is on track.
Key takeaways
• The first MTD ITSA quarterly deadline covers 6 April to 5 July 2026 and applies to landlords with gross income over £50,000.
• HMRC's special Agent Update, published 7 July 2026, includes filing tips from agents who have already submitted.
• MTD ITSA applies UK-wide, covering England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
• Landlords with gross income between £30,000 and £50,000 must join from April 2027; those in the £20,000-£30,000 band from April 2028.
• Quarterly updates are a reporting obligation only. Tax remains due by 31 January following the tax year end.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Who must file a quarterly update for Q1?
What does the quarterly update include?
Do I pay tax with each quarterly update?
What if I miss the Q1 deadline?
I earn less than £50,000 from property. Do I need to act now?
