From 6 April 2026, self-employed workers and landlords earning over £50,000 in gross income will need to keep digital tax records throughout the year, submit quarterly tax updates to HMRC, and file an annual Making Tax Digital (MTD) tax return.
864,000 sole traders and landlords will be in the first group affected. This will rise to nearly 3 million people by April 2028 as lower income bands are added.
The Association of Taxation Technicians warns that people must prepare now to avoid errors, missed submissions and unnecessary stress. Affected individuals are urged to confirm whether they fall under the new MTD rules, choose compatible commercial accounting software, speak to an accountant or tax adviser early to understand the new quarterly deadlines and record-keeping requirements.
HMRC describes MTD as one of the biggest tax system changes in years. The goal is to modernise tax reporting and reduce errors, but it requires significant preparation from taxpayers.
