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Making Tax Digital: your second quarterly update is due by 7 November

Self-employed people and landlords with income over £50,000 must send their next summary to HMRC. Here is what it involves and what happens if you are late.

Published 31 October 2026Last checked 31 October 2026UK-wideFrom HM Revenue and Customs

A wall calendar with three-monthly pages folded back, beside a laptop and a neat stack of receipts held with a bulldog clip on a decorator's workbench.

Illustration generated with AI

What's happening

If you are self-employed or a landlord and your income from those was over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025, you now have to send HMRC a short summary of your income and spending every three months using Making Tax Digital software. The second summary for this tax year is due by 7 November 2026. There is no penalty for a late summary this tax year, but late tax returns and late tax payments are still penalised.

The question: What do sole traders and landlords in Making Tax Digital need to send by 7 November 2026, and what happens if they miss it?

This applies to you if…

  • You are self-employed, a landlord, or both
  • Your self-employment and property income added together, before expenses, was over £50,000 in your 2024 to 2025 tax return
  • You have not been told you are exempt

Not for you if…

  • People whose only income is from employment (PAYE), pensions or dividends
  • Business partnerships (not included yet)
  • People with qualifying income of £20,000 or less
  • People HMRC has agreed are digitally excluded

What it's worth

What it's worth: No money to pay with the update itself

A quarterly update is a summary, not a tax return. HMRC says Making Tax Digital does not change when you pay tax. Missing deadlines from April 2027 can lead to £200 penalties once you reach 4 points.

Tax year 2026 to 2027

How to do it

  1. 1

    Check you are in

    Add your self-employment and property income for 2024 to 2025 before expenses. Over £50,000 means you joined on 6 April 2026. Employment (PAYE) income and pensions do not count.

  2. 2

    Make sure you have signed up and have software

    You need software that works with Making Tax Digital. HMRC does not make its own, but there are free and paid options. Spreadsheets can work with extra bridging software.

  3. 3

    Bring your records up to date to 5 October

    The second update covers 6 April to 5 October 2026 (or 1 April to 30 September if you chose calendar quarters). It is a running total from the start of the tax year.

  4. 4

    Check the totals and send

    Your software adds up each type of income and spending. Check the figures, then send them. Send one even if you had no income or spending in the period.

  5. 5

    Fix mistakes in the next update

    If you find an error later, correct your records. The fix goes into your next update.

Deadline

Second quarterly update for 2026 to 2027 — 7 November 2026 (in 7 days)

7 November 2026 is a Saturday. Updates are sent online through your software.

The catches

The penalty break covers updates only

HMRC says there are no penalties for missing a quarterly update deadline in 2026 to 2027. Late tax returns and late tax payments are still penalised.

Penalty points start next year

From the 2027 to 2028 tax year, each missed update deadline earns a point. At 4 points you get a £200 penalty, and another £200 for each missed deadline after that.

Your 2025 to 2026 return is separate

You still file your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment return the usual way by 31 January 2027. Making Tax Digital starts with the 2026 to 2027 tax year.

The threshold is income, not profit

The £50,000 is your turnover and rent before expenses. A landlord with £52,000 rent and big costs is still in.

Watch for fake HMRC messages

Deadlines bring scam emails and texts. Sign in through GOV.UK or your own software, not through links in unexpected messages.

Illustrative example

Sam, a decorator who also rents out a flat

In 2024 to 2025 Sam's decorating brought in £38,000 and the flat earned £14,400 in rent, before any costs.

  1. Qualifying income is £38,000 plus £14,400, which is £52,400.
  2. That is over £50,000, so Sam had to use Making Tax Digital from 6 April 2026.
  3. Sam's software already holds receipts and invoices from April to early October.
  4. Sam checks the year-to-date totals for the decorating business and the flat, and sends both by 7 November.

Sam has sent the second update on time. No tax is paid with it. Sam's tax is still due on the usual dates.

Illustrative example using HMRC's rules. Your own figures and software will differ.

What this means for…

  • Self-employed: Sole traders with turnover over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025 send quarterly updates now.
  • Landlord: Rent before costs counts towards the £50,000, including your share of jointly owned property.

Common misreadings

You might hear: The quarterly update is a tax return, so I pay tax every three months.

Actually: It is a summary of income and spending. HMRC says Making Tax Digital does not change when tax is paid.

You might hear: There are no penalties at all this year.

Actually: Only late quarterly updates escape penalties in 2026 to 2027. Late returns and late payments are still penalised.

You might hear: The £50,000 is my profit.

Actually: It is self-employment and property income added together, before expenses.

Where the UK nations differ

UK-wide
HMRC runs Self Assessment across the UK, and its Making Tax Digital guidance shows no differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What you could do

  1. have not sent your second update yet

    Bring your records up to 5 October and send the update through your software

    By 2026-11-07

  2. are not sure whether you have to use Making Tax Digital

    Use HMRC's checker and work out your qualifying income

  3. cannot use software because of age, health, disability or where you live

    Read HMRC's exemption guidance and ask for an exemption

Timeline

  1. 6 April 2026

    Making Tax Digital starts for income over £50,000

  2. 7 November 2026

    Second quarterly update due

    Covers 6 April to 5 October 2026

  3. 31 January 2027

    2025 to 2026 Self Assessment return and payment due

    Filed the usual way

  4. 7 February 2027

    Third quarterly update due

    Covers 6 April 2026 to 5 January 2027

  5. 6 April 2027

    Making Tax Digital extends to income over £30,000

  6. 7 May 2027

    Fourth quarterly update due

  7. 31 January 2028

    2026 to 2027 tax return due through Making Tax Digital software

The detail

The rules

  • Qualifying income over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025: in from 6 April 2026. Over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026: in from 6 April 2027. Over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027: in from 6 April 2028.
  • HMRC said in July 2026 that more than 864,000 sole traders and landlords were in scope. By 12 August, more than 436,000 had sent their first update.
  • Updates are cumulative from the start of the tax year and cover each business separately.
  • Update deadlines are 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May, whichever quarter dates you use.
  • Late tax returns earn a penalty point now. Late quarterly updates earn points for tax years after 2026 to 2027. The threshold is 4 points and each penalty is £200.
  • For 2026 to 2027 tax paid late: 3% at day 15, another 3% at day 30, then 10% a year from day 31. In your first year you get 30 days rather than 15 before the first penalty.

References

  • Send quarterly updates (GOV.UK): Periods, deadlines, what an update contains, fixing mistakes
  • Penalties for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (GOV.UK): No penalties for late updates in 2026 to 2027; points and late payment rules

Documents

Words explained

Making Tax Digital (MTD)
HMRC's system where you keep digital records and send figures through approved software.
Quarterly update
A summary of your income and spending so far this tax year, sent every three months.
Qualifying income
Your self-employment and property income added together, before expenses.
Bridging software
A tool that links a spreadsheet to HMRC so you can send figures from it.
Penalty points
Points you get for missing deadlines. Enough points lead to a £200 fine.

In short

If you are self-employed or a landlord with over £50,000 of income in 2024 to 2025, your second Making Tax Digital update is due by 7 November. It is a summary, not a tax bill. Missing it costs nothing this year, but late returns and payments are still penalised, and points start next year.

Related dates

  • 31 Oct Paper Self Assessment return deadline (2025 to 2026)Deadline · today
  • 7 Nov Making Tax Digital: second quarterly update dueDeadline · in 7 days
  • 15 Dec £65 rental property register fee starts rolling outChange · in 45 days
  • 30 Dec File Self Assessment online to pay through your tax codeDeadline · in 60 days
  • 31 Jan Online Self Assessment return and payment deadline (2025 to 2026)Deadline · in 92 days
  • 7 Feb Making Tax Digital: third quarterly update dueDeadline · in 99 days
See the money calendar

Sources

  1. Send quarterly updates, HMRC (GOV.UK) (2026-10-16)
  2. Penalties for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  3. Check if you're eligible for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  4. Work out your qualifying income, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  5. Find out if you can get an exemption, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  6. Signing up, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  7. Find software that works with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, HMRC (GOV.UK)
  8. MTD for Income Tax dates, HMRC
  9. 436,000 sole traders and landlords make their tax digital, HMRC (2026-08-12)
  10. Deadline approaches for first Making Tax Digital quarterly update, HMRC (2026-07-23)

This is guidance, not regulated financial advice. Check figures against the linked official source before you act. Written with AI assistance and checked against primary sources. How Kitty works. For free, impartial help, try MoneyHelper or Citizens Advice.