Missed an MTD deadline? Breathe. Then do this.
One missed update is almost never a fine. Here's exactly what has happened, what it costs, and the three things to do today.
What just happened
If the deadline was in the 2026/27 tax year: nothing, yet. HMRC has confirmed it will not charge late-submission penalties for quarterly updates during the 2026/27 tax year. Points and penalties still apply to the final declaration for 2026/27, due 31 January 2028.
From 2027/28 onwards: you've earned one penalty point. Points cost nothing by themselves — the £200 fine arrives at four points. Full mechanics on the penalties page.
Do these three things today
- Submit the update now. Updates are cumulative — the next one includes everything anyway, so clearing the miss is usually minutes of work, and an outstanding submission blocks your points from ever resetting.
- Check your points. Your HMRC online account shows any points and penalties. Know whether you're at one point or three — the difference decides how nervous the next deadline should make you.
- Appeal if you had a reasonable excuse. Illness, bereavement, system outages — HMRC's own or your software's. Keep evidence and appeal promptly rather than hoping it goes away.
Filing late ≠ paying late. If money is the problem, still file on time — points stop, and a Time to Pay arrangement agreed with HMRC before day 15 heads off the 3% late-payment penalty. Ignoring both is the expensive option.
Make it the last one
Four deadlines a year — 7 August, 7 November, 7 February, 7 May — plus the 31 January final declaration. Put all five in your calendar now, or join the NippyTax waitlist and we'll send a reminder before each one lands. Free, whether or not you ever buy anything from us.
Frequently asked questions
I missed the 7 August quarterly deadline — what happens now?
For deadlines in the 2026/27 tax year: nothing, thanks to HMRC’s soft landing — no points for late quarterly updates in year one. From 2027/28 onwards a late update earns one penalty point. Either way: submit it now, because the next quarter’s update is cumulative and the backlog only grows.
Does one late MTD submission mean a fine?
No. One late submission is one point, and points only turn into a £200 fine at four. The fine comes from a pattern of lateness, not a single slip.
Can I appeal an MTD penalty point?
Yes — points and penalties can be challenged if you have a reasonable excuse (serious illness, bereavement, HMRC system failure and similar). You appeal through your HMRC account or in writing; do it promptly and keep evidence.
What if I missed the deadline because HMRC or my software was down?
Documented service outages are classic reasonable-excuse territory. Screenshot the error, note the time, submit as soon as the service recovers, and appeal any point that gets applied.
What if I can’t pay the tax I owe?
File anyway — filing and paying are penalised separately, so filing on time stops the points even if you cannot pay. Then set up a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC before day 15 to avoid the 3% late-payment penalty; interest still applies but penalties can be avoided.
Get NippyTax when it launches
We are building the simplest possible way to do MTD quarterly updates — no accounting suite, no jargon. Join the waitlist and be first in when it launches.