Making Tax Digital for Income Tax becomes mandatory for landlords earning over £50,000 on 6 April 2026 — less than 4 weeks away. Here are the 10 things you must do before the deadline.
1. Confirm If You Are Affected
MTD applies from April 2026 if your total gross income from property and/or self-employment exceeds £50,000 in the 2024/25 tax year. From April 2027 the threshold drops to £30,000, and to £20,000 from April 2028.
2. Confirm Your HMRC Registration
You must be registered for Self Assessment with a valid National Insurance number. If you are not already registered, do this immediately — HMRC takes up to 10 working days to process new registrations.
3. Choose MTD-Compatible Software
You cannot use spreadsheets alone. You must use HMRC-recognised software. The main options are Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Hammock. See our MTD software comparison to choose the right tool for your portfolio.
4. Register for MTD With HMRC
Register via your Government Gateway account. The process takes around 15 minutes. Read our step-by-step MTD registration guide.
5. Set Up Digital Record-Keeping
Under MTD you must keep digital records of all rental income and expenses. This includes rent received, mortgage interest, letting agent fees, maintenance costs, insurance and utilities. See our guide to allowable expenses for landlords.
6. Know Your Quarterly Deadline Dates
You must submit four quarterly updates per year. The deadlines are: 7 August (Q1), 7 November (Q2), 7 February (Q3) and 7 May (Q4). Missing deadlines accumulates penalty points.
7. Understand the Penalty System
HMRC uses a points-based system. Accumulate enough points and you receive a £200 fine per missed submission. There is a 12-month grace period in Year 1 (April 2026–April 2027) for genuine efforts to comply. Full details: MTD Penalties Explained.
8. Consider Appointing an MTD-Registered Accountant
You can authorise an accountant to submit MTD updates on your behalf — handling registration, software, quarterly submissions and end-of-year statements. HS Global Accountancy is fully MTD-ready. Book a free consultation to discuss how we can manage your compliance from day one.
9. Check Your Multiple Property Position
The £50,000 threshold applies to your total combined rental income, not per property. A portfolio landlord earning £20,000 per property across three properties (£60,000 total) is fully in scope. Read more: MTD for Landlords With Multiple Properties.
10. Act Now — Do Not Wait Until April 6
HMRC systems will be under pressure as the deadline approaches. Register now, connect your software now, and do a test submission before it matters. If you need help, contact HS Global Accountancy — we can have you compliant within days.
Need MTD Help Fast?
HS Global Accountancy are MTD specialists based in Harrow. We handle everything — registration, software, quarterly submissions, end-of-year statements — from £79/month.
