For landlords and sole traders in MTD from April 2026
Your first MTD quarterly updateis due 7 August
Upload your XLSX workbook, review your figures and submit your quarterly update directly to HMRC.
Free for individuals. No card required. Review every figure before anything is sent.
Do not leave your HMRC connection and workbook checks until deadline day.
Verified in HMRC's software finderView the official aligned.tax listingHMRC's listing confirms support for sole trader, UK property and foreign property income, for individuals and agents.
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See the complete filing journey
This recording uses a landlord's XLSX workbook. Sole traders follow the same process: upload, Smart Map, review and HMRC confirmation.
From workbook to HMRC
Three steps. You approve every figure.
Your spreadsheet stays at the centre of the process.
- 01
Upload your XLSX
Choose the open HMRC obligation and upload the workbook containing that income source's digital records.
- 02
Review the mapping
Smart Map lines up your figures with HMRC fields. Check every amount and change anything that does not look right.
- 03
Submit to HMRC
Confirm the summary, submit through HMRC's MTD API and keep the acknowledgement with your filing record.
Before you start
Have these four things ready
A two-minute check now prevents a wasted signup or a deadline-day surprise.
Not certain you are in scope? Check your start date- Your MTD sign-up is active
You are in scope from April 2026, or joined voluntarily, and HMRC has signed you up for MTD for Income Tax.
- Your HMRC sign-in details
Have your Government Gateway credentials and National Insurance number available to connect securely.
- An XLSX workbook for this income source
Google Sheets, Numbers, LibreOffice, CSV and legacy XLS need to be saved or exported to XLSX first.
- The right obligation and checked records
Know which income source and period you are filing, and make sure the workbook includes the records you expect.
Why is it free?
Free is the individual plan, not a trial
We do not believe MTD should force people who already keep good spreadsheet records into a paid bookkeeping package. Filing your own quarterly updates is free, with no card and no time limit.
Practice pricing for accountants and bookkeepers is separate and published in full.See exactly how pricing works.
Eligibility and filing questions
Know before you click submit
Short, plain-English answers for the first MTD deadline.
Who needs to file a first quarterly update by 7 August 2026?
The first mandatory group is sole traders and individual landlords with gross qualifying income over £50,000 on their 2024-25 tax return, unless an exemption or deferral applies. You must also be signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Use the start-date checker if you are not certain.
What is an MTD quarterly update?
It is a summary of the digital income and expense records for an HMRC obligation. It is not your annual tax return and it does not create a new tax-payment deadline.
Can I keep using Excel or my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. aligned.tax accepts XLSX workbooks. If you use Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, LibreOffice, CSV or legacy XLS, save or export the file as XLSX before upload.
What if I have both property and self-employment income?
HMRC requires a separate quarterly update for each income source. File the relevant XLSX workbook against each open obligation in aligned.tax.
What happens if my update is late?
HMRC will not apply penalty points for late quarterly updates in the 2026-27 tax year. The update is still legally required, and tax-return and payment penalties are separate. If the deadline has passed, submit as soon as possible.
Why is filing free?
Filing your own MTD Income Tax quarterly updates is the free individual plan, not a trial. There is no card and no time limit. Accountants and bookkeepers have separate, openly published practice pricing.
Can my accountant file this for me?
Yes. aligned.tax supports agents as well as individuals. Your accountant needs an Agent Services Account, the appropriate client authorisation, and confirmation that you have been signed up for MTD.
First quarterly update due 7 August
Get the HMRC connection done. Check the workbook. File it.
Free for individuals. No card. Your figures are not sent until you approve them.