An additional standalone consultation on quarterly reporting for business is due over the autumn, after an initial package of six consultations running to more than 250 pages was released on 15 August 2016.

The closing date for initial six consultations is 7 November 2016.

Over the coming four months, testing is due to commence on digital reporting of accounts by small businesses, while authorised agents able to manage their clients’ digital tax accounts as part of beta testing. Additionally, testing is due to start on using real-time information to show taxpayers how their personal allowances are shared between jobs and pensions before the end of 2016.

Between January and June 2017, testing is scheduled to start for the digital reporting of income from letting property, while taxpayers will be able to report additional sources of income through their digital tax account. A new online billing system will also be brought in before June 2017.

In the six months between July and December 2017, HMRC expects digital tax accounts show taxpayers an overview of their tax liabilities in one place and automatic tax code adjustments to prevent PAYE under and overpayments.

By June 2018, HMRC aims for interest paid by banks and building societies to be shown in digital tax accounts. Between July and December that year, it is hoped ‘most businesses, self-employed and landlords’ will start updating HMRC quarterly for income tax and National Insurance obligations through their accounting software. In that same timeframe, taxpayers who currently report their child benefit to HMRC will no longer need to do so.

In 2019, most businesses, the self-employed and landlords are slated to start updating HMRC quarterly for VAT obligations through their accounting software. That year will also see capital gains tax on the disposal of residential properties need to be paid within 30 days.

The final year of implementation of Making Tax Digital is to be 2020, when most businesses, self-employed and landlords start updating HMRC quarterly for corporation tax obligations through their accounting software, and the ‘full range’ of HMRC services becomes available through the system.

There have already been calls for aspects of Making Tax Digital to be pushed back. The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) has reiterated its call for the implementation of quarterly digital reporting by at least a year to ensure it is robust and fit for purpose.

'To rush ahead with this project without allowing adequate time for the consultation and testing phases in April 2017 could put at risk the many potential benefits for taxpayers and HMRC which greater digital working can bring,' said Yvette Nunn, co-chair of ATT’s technical steering group.

HMRC's Making Tax Digital roadmap can be seen here.