MTD Sign-Up Outage Starts Today at 5pm: Register Before the Window Closes
As of 11 September 2026, HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for Income Tax sign-up service goes offline from 5pm today until 1pm Tuesday 15 September — sole traders and landlords still unsigned should register before close of business.
HMRC’s Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax guidance confirms planned maintenance from 5pm Friday 11 September 2026 to 1pm Tuesday 15 September 2026. You will not be able to sign up for MTD for Income Tax during that window. As of Friday 11 September, that outage starts this evening.
Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 who need MTD for the 2026 to 2027 tax year should sign up before 5pm today — and HMRC’s guidance confirms it will begin automatically signing up mandated taxpayers who have not yet registered from September 2026. Do not leave first-time enrolment until after the weekend maintenance.
Who must act before 5pm today
Anyone required to use MTD for Income Tax from 6 April 2026 (qualifying self-employment and/or property income over £50,000) who is not yet signed up.
Agents clearing client enrolments through the Agent Services Account before the September auto sign-up wave and this evening’s maintenance window.
Voluntary early adopters who want digital records in place before the next quarterly update cycle.
Day-of sign-up checklist
Confirm qualifying income from the last Self Assessment return and whether an exemption applies before you start — incomplete eligibility checks stall the final hours before the outage.
Have business start dates, addresses, and property income details ready — identity checks are the usual Friday enrolment stall.
If you use an agent, authorise them in the Agent Services Account so they can sign you up without waiting for Tuesday 15 September at 1pm.
Diary HMRC’s September auto sign-up letters so unexpected enrolment messages are forwarded to your adviser immediately after the outage clears on Tuesday.
How FinnAccountings helps before MTD enrolment
Digital books make quarterly updates faster once you are signed up. FinnAccountings helps Ireland and UK sole traders and landlords prepare bookkeeping and tax packs with Chartered Accountant insight before you or your ICAEW/ACCA or Chartered Accountant (Ireland) adviser files. Start a free trial for review-ready drafts — we prepare records; we do not sign you up for MTD or submit quarterly updates to HMRC on your behalf.
Related reading
Yesterday’s one-day outage briefing still maps the maintenance window.
HMRC’s September automatic sign-up wave is the other reason to enrol before the outage.
For dual-market income tax estimates while you prep packs, use the free calculator.
Sources & references
This article draws on official guidance from the sources below.
- Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
HM Revenue & Customs · Accessed 2026-09-11 - Find out if and when you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
HM Revenue & Customs · Accessed 2026-09-11 - Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — service availability and issues
HM Revenue & Customs · Accessed 2026-09-11
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