What to do if HMRC has not confirmed your MTD status

At a glance

Your MTD status must be confirmed by HMRC before you can submit quarterly updates
Software can connect to HMRC, but cannot confirm status on HMRC's behalf
Common cause: HMRC sign-up not yet completed
Allow HMRC processing time after completing sign-up — it may not be instant
TenancyVault shows a warning if your status is not confirmed and lets you re-sync

After connecting your HMRC account to TenancyVault, the app syncs your MTD status. If HMRC has not yet confirmed your status as active for MTD for Income Tax, you will see a warning and will not be able to submit quarterly updates until it is resolved. This guide explains why this happens and what to do. Reviewed May 2026.

Why your status might not be confirmed

The most common reason is that you have not yet completed HMRC’s MTD sign-up process.

Connecting software to HMRC is a separate step from enrolling in MTD. Authorising TenancyVault to access your HMRC data does not complete your MTD enrolment — that is a process you need to do directly with HMRC.

Other reasons:

HMRC is still processing your sign-up — it may take several days after completing the sign-up form
You signed up with a different UTR or NINO than the one linked to your Government Gateway account
Your MTD sign-up was for a different tax regime (for example, VAT) rather than Income Tax

Do you have an active MTD for Income Tax sign-up?
Is your Government Gateway account linked to the correct UTR?

If you have not yet enrolled, go to the HMRC Making Tax Digital for Income Tax sign-up pages on GOV.UK and complete the sign-up. Note that HMRC may have a queue at busy periods.

Step 2 — Allow processing time

After completing the HMRC sign-up, your MTD status may not update instantly. HMRC typically processes sign-ups within a few working days, but this can vary.

Wait a few days after signing up, then return to TenancyVault and use the sync option to refresh your MTD status.

Step 3 — Re-sync in TenancyVault

Once HMRC has confirmed your status, sync it in TenancyVault:

Go to the MTD / HMRC section in TenancyVault
Use the “Sync status” option
TenancyVault will retrieve the latest status from HMRC

If the status is now confirmed as active, the warning will clear and you will be able to submit quarterly updates.

Step 4 — Check your linked business sources

After your status is confirmed, also check that HMRC has linked the correct property business sources to your account. If a property source is missing or incorrect, contact HMRC directly to resolve it before your first submission.

What if the problem persists?

If you have completed HMRC sign-up, allowed processing time, and re-synced but your status is still not confirmed:

Check your Government Gateway account details match the details you used for sign-up
Contact HMRC’s MTD helpline directly — GOV.UK has contact details for MTD support
If you are working with an accountant, they may be able to check your enrolment status on their agent access

Plan ahead for your first quarterly deadline

If your MTD status is unconfirmed close to a quarterly filing deadline, there is limited time to resolve it. The practical advice is to connect software and check your status well before the first quarter ends — ideally at the start of the tax year — so there is time to resolve any issues.

Not legal or tax advice. This guide is for information only. Consult a qualified accountant or tax adviser for guidance on your specific situation.

Related guides

Making Tax Digital for landlords explained

What Making Tax Digital for Income Tax means for landlords in England — who it applies to, when it starts, what you need to do, and how it changes your tax obligations.

How landlords connect HMRC software

How to connect your HMRC account to MTD-compatible software as a landlord — what the authorisation process involves, what HMRC syncs, and what you can do once connected.

MTD for Income Tax — quarterly updates explained

What a quarterly update is, what it contains, when it is due, and how to submit one to HMRC as a landlord under Making Tax Digital.