HMRC warns landlords about impending tax deadline

With the 31 July deadline closing in, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding millions of Self Assessment tax payers to complete their tax return before the deadline.

In particular, landlords and sole traders with an annual turnover above £50,000 are now required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, submitting quarterly updates to HMRC. The first quarterly submissions deadline for the 2026/27 tax year is 7 August 2026. More than 864,000 sole traders and landlords are expected to comply with the first phase of the MTD system.  

Generally however, the deadline is for taxpayers who make ‘Payments on Account’ – advance payments towards their next Self Assessment tax bill, based on the amount of tax they owed the previous year. These are designed to spread the cost of a tax bill across two instalments rather than paid in one lump sum, which each payment worth half the previous year’s tax bill.  

For most people, the first instalment was due on 31 January, while the second must be paid by midnight on Thursday, 31 July. Any outstanding balance remaining is then payable by the following 31 January.

HMRC lays out a number of ways to pay. All the usual methods such as bank transfer, direct debit and online banking apply, but you can also use the HMRC app.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, commented on the upcoming deadline:

“We know managing a Self Assessment tax bill isn’t always straightforward and we are here to help. From paying instantly via the HMRC app to spreading the cost through a payment plan, there’s support available for every customer.”

“Search ‘Pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK to choose the payment option that works for you.”

What is ‘Self-Assessment’?

Self-Assessment is the process you go through each year where you complete a tax return and declare your income, capital gains and any other income during that tax year to HMRC, outside of income tax that is normally deducted from your wage or pension.

Millions of workers complete Self-Assessment each year, with 11.48 million received by the 31 January deadline earlier this year.  

Although most commonly done by those who are self-employed, anyone who has other income outside what is normally deducted from your wages and pension, need to complete a self-assessment form – which can be paper based or digital.  

Irrespective of employment status, if you have received any untaxed income before the deadline of that tax year, you may need to complete a tax return. Even if that income comes from Ebay, Etsy or similar enterprises.

For further information, check out our free guide on tax planning strategies. Alternatively, give us a call on 0333 323 9065 to book a free non-committal initial consultation with a member of our team.  

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This article is intended for general information only, it does not constitute individual advice and should not be used to inform financial decisions.  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate tax or trust advice.