Local sole traders and private landlords in Swindon are among the more than 864,000 taxpayers nationwide who have been reminded by HM Revenue & Customs they have two weeks left to submit their first quarterly update under the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax rules.
Who must comply and by when
HMRC says anyone with more than £50,000 in income from self-employment or property in the tax year must send a short digital summary of income and expenses for the first three months of the tax year by 7 August 2026. The department stresses this is not a Self Assessment return but a separate quarterly update that must be sent using HMRC-recognised software.
What Swindon taxpayers need to know
The new requirement affects people who keep business or rental records and move them into a digital format. HMRC has emphasised that many taxpayers already using compatible software can complete the update in a matter of minutes, and that some packages include HMRC Assist — a tool that highlights potential errors and offers an estimate of tax due to help with budgeting.
"This is a landmark moment for the tax system,"
The comment above is from Craig Ogilvie, HMRC's Director of Making Tax Digital, highlighting the scale of the rollout. HMRC also points to early users who found the process straightforward.
For those in Swindon who have not yet registered, HMRC says there remains time to enrol. Taxpayers who use an accountant can ask their agent to sign them up and to make the submission on their behalf.
- Deadline: 7 August 2026 — first quarterly update for the tax year.
- Who: Sole traders and landlords with >£50,000 income from self-employment or property.
- How: Submit a short digital summary via HMRC-recognised software; not a Self Assessment return.
- Support: Use an agent or compatible software which may include error-checking tools.
Practical steps for local businesses
Swindon-based sole traders and landlords should check whether their current bookkeeping or accounting package is recognised by HMRC for MTD. If not, they will need to move to compatible software or ask an authorised agent to submit updates on their behalf. HMRC's GOV.UK guidance for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax remains the official starting point for registrations and technical details.
| Action | When |
|---|---|
| Register for MTD for Income Tax (if not already) | Before 7 August 2026 |
| Submit first quarterly update | By 7 August 2026 |
| Ask your accountant to enrol and file | As soon as possible |
Local businesses unsure about procured software or the submission process can contact their accountant or bookkeeper for bespoke support. For those who have not used digital filing before, HMRC resources and software providers offer step-by-step guides and helplines.
As the deadline approaches, Swindon traders and landlords are advised to act promptly to avoid last-minute difficulties and to ensure their first MTD submission is completed on time.
