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What's changed · 29 October 2026

HMRC is signing people up for Making Tax Digital

From September 2026. Applies to the 2026/27 tax year.

In short

If your turnover from self-employment and property on your 2024/25 return was over £50,000 and you hadn't signed up for Making Tax Digital, HMRC is now doing it for you, in stages, and writing to confirm. You then need to check your details, get software and catch up the quarterly updates from 6 April 2026. There are no penalty points for late updates this tax year, but they must be in before you can send your 2026/27 return.

What's happening

Making Tax Digital started on 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords whose 2024/25 turnover was over £50,000. Plenty of them didn't sign up. Since September 2026, HMRC has been signing them up itself, using the details from their last tax return. It's doing this in stages and contacts each person afterwards, by post or in their HMRC online account.

By the time a letter arrives, the first two quarterly updates, due 7 August and 7 November 2026, have usually passed.

What to do if you've had the letter

  • Sign in to HMRC online services by going to GOV.UK yourself, not through a link in a message.
  • Check the income sources HMRC has for you, add anything new and tell it about anything that's stopped.
  • Get software that works with MTD. Compare MTD software.
  • Put in your income and costs from 6 April 2026 and send the overdue updates as soon as you can.

If all your self-employment and rental income stopped before 6 April 2026, update your details in your online account instead; you won't need MTD.

Not had a letter?

Sign in to your HMRC online account. If HMRC has signed you up, a message says so. If not, and your turnover was over the limit, you can still sign up yourself, which lets you check your details are right from the start.

The full guide

Sources

  1. Check what to do if HMRC has signed you up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, GOV.UK. Checked 29 Oct 2026
  2. Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, GOV.UK. Checked 29 Oct 2026

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