Overview

• From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying gross income above £50,000 must keep digital records, use compatible software and submit quarterly updates, with combined self-employment and rental turnover counting toward the threshold.
• The rollout expands to those over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028, following the model used for MTD for VAT.
• HMRC says just over 2,400 users are currently in the beta, and it is encouraging taxpayers and agents to register to access dedicated support before the rules become mandatory.
• A points-based regime is set out for late quarterly submissions, awarding one point per missed deadline and triggering a £200 fine at four points, with points expiring after two years.
• An accountant has advised first-year filing dates of 7 Aug and 7 Nov 2026, 7 Feb and 7 May 2027, and a final declaration by 31 Jan 2028 for those entering in 2026.