How to choose an update period

If you do nothing, you default to standard tax-year quarters (periods ending 5 July, 5 October, 5 January, and 5 April).

Calendar quarters (ending 30 June, 30 September, 31 December, and 31 March) suit businesses whose year naturally runs April to March and who prefer clean month-ends. They are also easier if you already report VAT on calendar quarters.

• Use standard quarters if your business year already aligns with the tax year (April to April).
• Use calendar quarters if you run an April–March accounts year and want quarter-ends on calendar month-ends.

Deadline dates do not change — only how the quarter periods are defined. Make the election in your software before your first update of the year.