MTD Quarterly Update Calculator: What to Report Each Quarter (2026/27)
Last updated 24 June 2026 · 8 min read · By the LandlordTaxAi Editorial Team
The short answer
Under Making Tax Digital, you send four quarterly updates a year, each showing your cumulative (year-to-date) totals of rental income and expenses by category. Standard deadlines are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. Because the figures are cumulative, later updates automatically correct earlier ones.
Quarterly updates are the heart of Making Tax Digital — and the part landlords worry about most. The good news is they’re simpler than they sound: a summary of your income and expenses to date, not a mini tax return. Understanding what goes in each one removes the fear.
The calculator above totals your figures for a quarter. This guide explains what to report, the deadlines, and the cumulative system that makes corrections painless. For the full schedule, see the MTD quarterly deadline calendar.
Free calculator · no sign-up
MTD Quarterly Update Calculator
Total your cumulative rental income and expenses to report in a quarterly update for 2026/27.
Result
- Taxable profit (rent − expenses)
- £11,200
- Income Tax at 20%
- £2,240
- Less mortgage interest credit (20%)
- − £1,000
- Tax due on this property
- £1,240
- Income after tax
- £9,960
Updates are cumulative year-to-date summaries. Tax is finalised at the final declaration. Estimate only.
What a quarterly update contains
Each quarterly update is a summary of your property income and expenses, grouped into HMRC’s standard categories. You’re not calculating tax, claiming reliefs or making final decisions — that all happens later at the final declaration.
Crucially, updates are cumulative: each one reports the running totals for the year so far, not just that quarter in isolation.
- Total rental income for the year to date
- Total expenses by category (repairs, insurance, agent fees, etc.) to date
- No need to apply Section 24, allowances or reliefs yet
- Submitted from compatible software linked to your digital records
Because each update is year-to-date, the figures simply build through the year — Q3, for example, covers everything from 6 April up to the end of that quarter.
The four quarterly deadlines
Standard quarterly periods follow the tax year, with each update due roughly a month after the quarter ends. There’s also a calendar-quarter election if you prefer periods ending 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March.
| Quarter | Period covered (standard) | Update deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 Apr – 5 Jul | 7 August |
| Q2 | 6 Jul – 5 Oct | 7 November |
| Q3 | 6 Oct – 5 Jan | 7 February |
| Q4 | 6 Jan – 5 Apr | 7 May |
| Final declaration | Whole tax year | 31 January following |
The quarterly update is not a payment — your tax is still due by 31 January. But missing updates builds penalty points (after the first-year soft landing). See the MTD soft landing.
How corrections work — and how to use the calculator
The cumulative system has a big advantage: if you get a figure wrong or a late invoice arrives, you don’t file an amendment. You simply include the corrected year-to-date totals in your next update, and the numbers self-correct.
Final adjustments — reliefs, allowances, Section 24, any accruals — are made once a year at the final declaration, which replaces the old Self Assessment return.
Quarterly updates without the stress
LandlordTaxAi keeps your cumulative totals current from your bank feed and files each quarterly update on time — so MTD runs itself in the background.
See how it worksA worked example
Aliya’s rental income and repair costs build through 2026/27. Her cumulative Q2 update covers 6 April to 5 October.
| Rent received to 5 Oct (Q1 + Q2) | £9,000 |
| Repairs to 5 Oct | £1,200 |
| Insurance to 5 Oct | £300 |
| Q2 cumulative figures reported | Income £9,000; expenses £1,500 |
| Q2 deadline | 7 November 2026 |
Aliya’s Q2 update reports the running totals to 5 October — not just the July–October slice. Her Q3 update will build on these figures again.
Frequently asked questions
What do I report in a quarterly update?
Cumulative year-to-date totals of your rental income and expenses by category — a summary, not a tax calculation. Reliefs come later at the final declaration.
When are the quarterly updates due?
Standard deadlines are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. A calendar-quarter election shifts the periods slightly.
Are quarterly updates cumulative?
Yes. Each update reports running totals for the year so far, so a later update automatically overrides earlier figures.
How do I correct a mistake?
You don’t file an amendment — just include the corrected cumulative totals in your next quarterly update, and the figures self-correct.
Do I pay tax with each update?
No. Updates are informational. Your tax is still due by 31 January after the tax year (with payments on account if applicable).
What happens if I miss an update?
After the first-year soft landing, missed updates earn penalty points — four points triggers a £200 fine.
Written and reviewed by the LandlordTaxAi Editorial Team. Our guides are reviewed against current HMRC guidance and updated when the rules change. Operated by LandlordTaxAi, United Kingdom. Follow us on LinkedIn.
Last reviewed: 24 June 2026 · Researched against primary UK sources for the 2026/27 tax year: https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/guides/income-tax-mtd-end-to-end-service-guide/documentation/make-updates-during-tax-year.html; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/penalties-for-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax; https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-nic/making-tax-digital-income-tax. This article is informational only and does not constitute tax advice. Check the latest details on GOV.UK or with a qualified accountant.