After the fourth MTD update: prepare the annual tax-return work
This page contains no affiliate links.
The fourth quarterly update does not complete your annual tax return. You still need to check the year's records, deal with adjustments and other income, then submit the return. Keep a separate checklist for that work.
Rules checked: 28 October 2026, UK. This guide concerns MTD for Income Tax.
Separate the reporting stages
HMRC: sending quarterly updates describes quarterly updates as summaries. HMRC: submitting the MTD tax return explains completing and submitting the annual return after the relevant adjustments have been made, with submission by 31 January following the tax year.
Use the current HMRC process and your software instructions rather than assuming every quarterly screen contains the complete annual position.
Gather the remaining information
Make a list of other income and relevant documents, alongside questions about the business and property records. Ask your adviser what applies to your circumstances and when they need the evidence.
Check information HMRC has added as well as items you enter yourself. An imported figure is still something to review. Keep a short working list:
| Item | What to record |
|---|---|
| Business and property queries | The unresolved entry, evidence needed and person handling it |
| Other income and gains | The source document and whether the return includes it |
| Reliefs and allowances | What needs checking with your adviser |
| Submission | Who will submit, the filing deadline and the confirmation |
This is an organising checklist, not a complete list of claims or income types for every taxpayer.
Do not make unfamiliar claims or adjustments just because a software field is available. Obtain qualified advice where the correct treatment is unclear.
Resolve outstanding record queries
Review missing evidence, corrections and unexplained differences. Establish who changes the original digital records and how those changes reach the submission software.
Keep an audit trail that another person can follow. A final total without the supporting explanation makes future questions harder to answer.
Confirm responsibility and completion
Agree who checks, approves and submits the annual return under your actual engagement arrangements. Keep the confirmation after submission, then separately confirm payment and any other continuing obligations.
For the first year, distinguish this work from the previous tax year's return, which may still use the earlier route.
Put preparation dates in the calendar well before the filing deadline. The fourth update can prompt the annual review, but the review should finish only when the relevant records, adjustments, other information and submission requirements have been addressed.
This is general information, not financial or tax advice. Rules change, so check GOV.UK or speak to a qualified adviser.
Related reading
- MTD in 2026–27: put quarterly updates and annual returns on separate lines
- MTD quarterly updates are cumulative: what that means when checking totals
- Agree your accountant's responsibilities
Sources
Facts last checked: 18 October 2026.