Monday November 2nd 2026
Self employted women working from home (photo by Annie Spratt)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is helping sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 prepare for their second Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax quarterly update by answering some of the most common questions raised since the first quarterly update in August.
Customers must submit their second quarterly update to HMRC by 7 November 2026.
Myth 1: “A quarterly update is the same as a tax return"
Fact: An MTD quarterly update is not a tax return. It's a short summary of self-employment and property income and expenses, which is sent through compatible software. There’s no tax calculation involved and no payment is due when you send it.
Customers’ overall tax position is only calculated when they submit their tax return for the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
Myth 2: “I need to contact HMRC to see if they have received my quarterly update”
Fact: If a customer successfully completed their first quarterly update in August, there's no need to recheck their status or contact HMRC for reassurance. They can check their submission history at any time by logging into their HMRC online account or through MTD software, without needing to call or use webchat.
Myth 3: “I can only use specialist accounting software”
Fact: There are a variety of HMRC-recognised software options to suit different needs and circumstances. Some customers use software designed specifically for sole traders and landlords, while others use more advanced accounting packages. Some free software options are also available. Customers can also use spreadsheets linked to bridging software. There is guidance on GOV.UK to help people choose MTD compatible software that is right for them.
Myth 4: “If I spot a mistake in my last update period, I need to resend the last update”
Fact: MTD allows customers to keep their information up-to-date throughout the year. If a customer spots a mistake with a digital record, then they should correct it as soon as possible. The correction will then be reflected in the next quarterly update they send – so there’s no need to resend quarterly updates.
Myth 5: “Because the deadline falls on a Saturday, I need to find a way to send before the weekend”
Fact: Customers can send their second quarterly update before or on 7 November. HMRC is encouraging people to send it as early as possible following the end of the update period. Customers that need support should contact HMRC during the week when the full phone service is available. However, phone support will be available through the Self Assessment helpline on Saturday 7 November (from 9am to 3pm) for customers who need assistance with sending their quarterly update.
Craig Ogilvie, HMRC’s Director of Making Tax Digital, said:
“Thousands of sole traders and landlords have already successfully sent their first quarterly update, and we want the second to be just as straightforward.
“As the next deadline approaches, we’re helping customers prepare with confidence by answering common questions about MTD and highlighting the support available.
“Customers can send their update any time before 7 November and I would encourage them to do so as early as possible to ensure they have everything in place before the deadline.”
Quarterly updates are not tax returns, no tax is due when they’re sent, and customers can keep their information up to date throughout the year.
For more information about MTD for Income Tax, visit GOV.UK.
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