Understanding MTD penalty points how you get them, how much they cost, and how to avoid them. Plain English, no tax jargon.
The Basic Rule
Miss an MTD deadline → Get a penalty point.
Get 4 penalty points → Pay a £200 fine.
Miss another deadline while at 4 points → Pay another £200 fine.
That’s it. Simple as that.
How You Get Penalty Points
Every time you file a quarterly update late, you get 1 penalty point.
There are four MTD deadlines per year:
- 5 August (Q1 deadline)
- 5 November (Q2 deadline)
- 5 February (Q3 deadline)
- 5 May (Q4 deadline)
Miss any of these → 1 point each.
What “Late” Means
On time: Submit by 11:59pm on the deadline day
Late: Submit any time after the deadline (even by 1 minute)
There’s no grace period. If the deadline is 5 August and you submit on 6 August, you get a point. Doesn’t matter if it’s one day late or one month late it’s still 1 point.
The 4-Point Penalty Threshold
Nothing happens at 1, 2, or 3 points. You just accumulate them.
But when you hit 4 points, HMRC issues a £200 fine.
Example Timeline
Year 1:
- Q1 (5 Aug) filed late → 1 point (no fine)
- Q2 (5 Nov) filed on time → Still 1 point
- Q3 (5 Feb) filed late → 2 points (no fine)
- Q4 (5 May) filed late → 3 points (no fine)
Year 2:
- Q1 (5 Aug) filed late → 4 points = £200 fine
- Q2 (5 Nov) filed late → Still 4 points = another £200 fine
- Q3 (5 Feb) filed on time → Still 4 points (you don’t lose points yet)
- Q4 (5 May) filed on time → Still 4 points
Year 3:
- If you file all four quarters on time, your oldest points start to expire
- You drop below 4 points and stop getting fined
Total fines in this example: £400
What Happens After You Hit 4 Points?
Once you’re at 4 points, every late filing costs you £200 — even if it’s just one day late.
You stay at 4 points (the cap) but the fines keep coming.
Example:
You reach 4 points in August 2026. Over the next year, you file 3 more quarterly updates late.
Fines:
- 1st late filing at 4 points: £200
- 2nd late filing at 4 points: £200
- 3rd late filing at 4 points: £200
- Total: £600
You’re not accumulating points beyond 4, but the financial penalty keeps adding up.
What Counts as a “Reasonable Excuse”?
You can appeal a penalty point if you have a reasonable excuse for being late.
HMRC Accepts These Excuses:
✓ Serious illness or bereavement affecting you or a close family member
✓ Unexpected hospital stay
✓ Fire, flood, or theft affecting your business records
✓ Postal delays (if you posted well before the deadline)
✓ HMRC’s systems being down on the deadline day
✓ Service provider failure (if your software or internet provider had an outage)
HMRC Does NOT Accept:
✗ “I forgot”
✗ “I was busy”
✗ “I didn’t know the deadline”
✗ “My accountant didn’t remind me”
✗ “I couldn’t afford to pay, so I didn’t file”
✗ “I had other priorities”
How to Appeal
If you have a genuine reasonable excuse:
- Call HMRC on 0300 200 3310 within 30 days of the penalty notice
- Explain your situation
- Provide evidence (doctor’s note, death certificate, etc.)
- HMRC will review and may cancel the point
Important: You need to appeal as soon as the circumstance ends. If you were ill for 2 weeks but waited 3 months to file, HMRC won’t accept it.
Year-End Penalties (EOPS & Final Declaration)
The points system applies to quarterly updates only (the four submissions due in Aug, Nov, Feb, May).
Your year-end submissions (End of Period Statement and Final Declaration, both due 31 January) have different penalties:
Late EOPS/Final Declaration:
- 1 day late: No penalty
- 3 months late: £100 fine
- 6 months late: Another £100 (£200 total)
- 12 months late: More fines (can reach thousands)
These are separate from penalty points. You can get penalty points for late quarterly updates and cash fines for late year-end submissions.
The Bottom Line
The penalty points system is simple:
1 missed deadline = 1 point
4 points = £200 fine
Each additional miss at 4 points = another £200
Points expire after 24 months of perfect compliance.
Avoid penalties by:
- Filing one week before each deadline
- Setting calendar reminders
- Using software notifications
- Considering a managed service if you’re always late
The cost of being organized: £0
The cost of missing deadlines: £200+ per year
Choose wisely.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
We offer managed MTD services with a zero late filing record:
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Book a free consultation or call 03301 332 533
About This Guide
Written by the MTD Compliance Team at MakingTaxesDigital.com UK accountants who’ve helped over 500 businesses avoid MTD penalties since 2024.
Questions? Email hello@makingtaxesdigital.com
Last updated: 25 January 2026