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Guide · Internal
MTD for Income Tax Deadlines: The Full Timetable
Quarterly periods, filing windows and the final declaration, mapped onto a practice timetable you can actually staff.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 27 September 2026
Quick answer
MTD for Income Tax replaces one annual deadline with quarterly update deadlines plus a final declaration after the tax year ends. Payment dates for income tax are unchanged. Remindoo tracks every period per client as a recurring job with your own internal deadline in front of the statutory one.
How are MTD for Income Tax deadlines structured?
Each in-scope client has four quarterly update periods across the tax year, each with its own filing window, and then a final declaration after the year ends.
The quarterly updates are cumulative summaries of business income and expenses, not a full tax calculation. The final declaration is where reliefs, other income and adjustments are brought in. Always confirm the exact dates for the tax year in question on GOV.UK, because the timetable has been revised more than once.
How should a practice plan around quarterly deadlines?
Work backwards from each filing window to a records deadline for the client, then to an internal review deadline for your team.
A workable pattern is: records requested a fortnight before the period closes, records due a week after it closes, review completed a week before the filing window closes. Set those as internal deadlines so a late client never becomes a late submission.
MTD for Income Tax Deadlines: The Full Timetable: step by step
- 1
List in-scope clients
Record which clients have quarterly obligations and from which tax year.
- 2
Map the four periods
Write down each quarterly period and its filing window for the tax year.
- 3
Set a records deadline
Give each client a records deadline that sits well before your filing deadline.
- 4
Set internal review deadlines
Add a review step between records arriving and submission going out.
- 5
Add the final declaration
Create the annual job that follows the four quarterly updates.
- 6
Review capacity
Check no single week carries more work than your team can deliver.
See it working with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services, deadlines and templates.
How do you do it in Remindoo?
- Create a quarterly service. Set up an MTD quarterly update service with the stages your team follows.
- Set recurrence. Make the job repeat each quarter so it appears automatically.
- Add internal and statutory dates. Record the statutory date and an earlier internal deadline on each job.
- Assign owners. Give every client's quarterly work a named owner and reviewer.
- Automate client reminders. Schedule records-request reminders ahead of each period end.
- Watch the dashboard. Use deadline views to spot any client whose records have not arrived.
Recurring tasks
Repeat work is created automatically on schedule.
See featureTrigger dates
Start work from key filing or internal dates.
See featureInternal vs external deadlines
Build a buffer before every statutory date.
See featureAutomated reminders
Timely prompts before work becomes urgent.
See featureReal-time notifications
Everyone knows when work moves.
See featureWhat are the common mistakes?
- Treating the filing window as the only deadline
- No records deadline for the client
- Forgetting the final declaration is separate work
- Planning capacity for one busy season instead of four
- Relying on memory rather than recurring jobs
“Automation saves time and no follow-up is missed.”
Frequently asked questions
When are MTD quarterly updates due?
Each quarterly period has its own filing window that opens after the period ends. Check GOV.UK for the exact dates that apply to the tax year you are working on.
Do payment dates change under MTD?
Income tax payment dates are not changed by quarterly reporting. Quarterly updates are reporting, not payment.
What happens if a quarterly update is late?
HMRC operates penalties for late submission. Check the current penalty rules on GOV.UK, and build internal deadlines so late client records do not become late filings.
Can quarterly figures be corrected later?
Quarterly updates are cumulative and adjustments are made in the final declaration, so early estimates can be refined.
Does Remindoo submit the updates?
No. Remindoo manages the deadlines, tasks and chasing. Submission happens in your MTD-compatible filing software.
How do I track deadlines across hundreds of clients?
Use recurring jobs per client with filters by deadline, owner and status, so you see the whole quarter on one screen.
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Sources
Last updated 27 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
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“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
