Last checked: 9 September 2026 · Source: GOV.UK
MTD for Income Tax replaces how you report self-employment and property income, not how much tax you pay, and not when you pay it. It's a filing-process change wearing a much bigger name, which is part of why it causes more anxiety than it probably should.
| Self Assessment (before MTD) | MTD for Income Tax | |
|---|---|---|
| How often you report | Once a year | Four quarterly updates, plus a year-end Final Declaration |
| How you file | HMRC online portal, or paper | HMRC-recognised software only |
| Record-keeping | Any method, digital or not | Digital records required throughout the year |
| Balancing payment | 31 January | 31 January, unchanged |
| Payment on account | 31 July | 31 July, unchanged |
| Personal allowance, reliefs | Same rules | Same rules |
Your actual tax bill is calculated the same way, using the same allowances and reliefs you're already familiar with. You still pay by 31 January, plus 31 July payments on account where they apply. MTD is a reporting mechanism. It isn't a new tax, and it doesn't touch your rate or your allowance.
Most of the worry we hear isn't about the tax rules changing. It's about the four deadlines instead of one, and the fear of losing track of which one is next. That's a calendar problem, not a tax problem, which is exactly the gap this product exists to close.
However you file, the dates you're now working to are already in the calendar.