It's mid-May 2026, and if you started Making Tax Digital quarterly reporting on 6 April, you're now halfway through your first quarter. With just 86 days left until the 7 August deadline for Q1 updates, this is the perfect time for a reality check. Are you actually recording what you need to record? Have you fallen behind on data entry? And if so, what's the quickest way to get back on track?

This isn't about perfectionism - it's about avoiding the scramble that happens when you reach early August with incomplete records. Let's look at exactly where you should be right now and what to do if you're not there yet.

What You Should Have Recorded by Mid-May

By now, you should have captured roughly six weeks of business activity in your MTD software. Here's what that looks like in practice:

For Sole Traders and Freelancers

Your records should include:

The key test: can you look at your software right now and see a realistic picture of your business income and expenses for April and the first half of May? If large chunks are missing, you're behind.

For Landlords

Your Q1 records should capture:

Remember: rental income is typically recorded when received, not when due. So if your tenant pays quarterly in advance, that full amount goes into Q1 even though it covers future months.

Note: You don't need to categorise every expense perfectly at this stage. Focus on getting the amounts and dates right - you can refine the categories later. The important thing is that transactions are recorded, not that they're perfectly organised.

Red Flags: Signs You're Falling Behind

Some warning signs that your Q1 tracking needs immediate attention:

The "I'll Catch Up Later" Pile

You have a growing stack of receipts, invoices, or bank statements that you keep meaning to enter. This pile represents missing data in your MTD software. Every day you delay makes the catch-up task bigger.

Incomplete Bank Reconciliation

Your software shows some transactions, but when you compare it to your actual bank statements, there are obvious gaps. Missing transactions mean your quarterly update will be inaccurate.

Mixed Personal and Business Spending

You've been using your business account for personal expenses (or vice versa) and haven't separated them in your records. HMRC expects clear business-only figures in your quarterly updates.

Zero or Minimal Activity Recorded

Your software shows almost no income or expenses for a six-week period when you know you've been actively trading. This suggests you haven't started proper record-keeping yet.

Estimated or Round Numbers Everywhere

Your records are full of rough estimates rather than actual transaction amounts. MTD requires real figures, not approximations.

Warning: Don't assume you can catch up in July. Six weeks of missing data takes much longer than six weeks to reconstruct, especially if you need to chase missing invoices or dig through bank statements. Start your catch-up now while the transactions are still fresh in your memory.

Quick Recovery Steps If You're Behind

Fallen behind? Don't panic, but do act quickly. Here's how to catch up efficiently:

Step 1: Gather Your Source Documents

Collect everything from 6 April onwards:

Don't worry about organising these perfectly - just get them all in one place.

Step 2: Prioritise Income First

Start with recording your income. This is usually simpler than expenses and gives you the biggest impact on your quarterly update accuracy. Work through:

  1. Payments received (check all your bank accounts)
  2. Invoices sent but not yet paid
  3. Cash payments or other income sources

Step 3: Tackle Major Expenses

Focus on significant expenses first - the ones that will make a real difference to your quarterly figures:

Leave small expenses (coffee, minor supplies) until after you've captured the big-ticket items.

Step 4: Use Bank Feeds If Available

Many MTD software options, including bridging solutions, can import bank transactions automatically. This saves enormous amounts of manual data entry. You'll still need to categorise transactions, but the amounts and dates are captured automatically.

If your current software doesn't offer bank feeds, this might be the time to review your MTD software choice.

Step 5: Set Up Daily or Weekly Updates

Once you're caught up, don't let the backlog build again. Choose a realistic schedule:

The key is consistency. Better to update weekly without fail than to aim for daily updates and only manage it occasionally.

Common Mid-Quarter Mistakes to Avoid

As you catch up or continue your Q1 tracking, watch out for these frequent errors:

Recording Transactions in the Wrong Quarter

Q1 runs from 6 April to 5 July 2026. Transactions from 5 July onwards belong in Q2, even if they relate to work done in Q1. The date of the transaction determines which quarter it belongs to, not when the work was performed.

Double-Counting Income

This happens when you record both the invoice and the payment as separate income. You should typically record either when you invoice (for most sole traders) or when you receive payment (for landlords and some cash-based businesses).

Missing Allowable Expenses

Many people under-claim legitimate business expenses. Make sure you're capturing all the expenses you're entitled to claim, including:

Ignoring Partial Business Use

Items used partly for business and partly for personal use can still be claimed, but only the business proportion. A mobile phone that's 70% business use can have 70% of its costs claimed as a business expense.

Your Q1 Timeline: What Happens Next

Understanding the remaining timeline helps you prioritise your efforts:

Late May to Mid-June

Continue recording transactions as they happen. You're still in the active quarter, so new income and expenses are still accumulating.

Early July

This is your final push for Q1 data entry. Any transactions up to 5 July 2026 need to be recorded. After 5 July, new transactions belong in Q2.

6 July to 7 August

You have one month to review your Q1 figures, make any corrections, and submit your quarterly update to HMRC. This sounds like plenty of time, but it goes quickly if you need to resolve any data issues.

Note: The 7 August deadline is for submitting your Q1 update, not for finishing your data entry. However, you can't submit what you haven't recorded, so treat early July as your real deadline for Q1 record-keeping.

Getting Help If You're Struggling

If you're significantly behind or finding the process overwhelming, you have options:

Switch to Simpler Software

Complex accounting software can slow you down if you don't need all its features. MTD bridging software focuses specifically on quarterly reporting requirements without unnecessary complications.

Consider Professional Help

For this first quarter, it might be worth paying a bookkeeper to help you catch up and establish good systems. They can often complete in hours what might take you days.

Focus on Accuracy Over Perfection

Your Q1 update needs to be accurate, not perfect. HMRC wants reliable income and expense figures, not accounting perfection. Get the numbers right and worry about optimal categorisation later.

Looking Beyond Q1

Use this mid-May checkpoint to establish better habits for Q2 and beyond:

Remember: quarterly deadlines come around quickly. Q2 runs from 6 July to 5 October, with a 7 November deadline. The habits you establish now will make every subsequent quarter easier.

Catch Up on Q1 with Simple MTD Software

AffordableMTD's bridging software focuses on quarterly reporting without unnecessary complexity. Bank feeds, automatic categorisation, and straightforward quarterly updates.

Start Free Trial

Mid-May marks the halfway point of your first MTD quarter, but it's not too late to get properly organised. Focus on capturing accurate income and expense data, establish regular update routines, and remember that consistency beats perfection. With 86 days until the 7 August deadline, you have time to build good habits that will serve you well beyond Q1.