Methods and apparatuses for timing adjustment in a system comprising multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs). A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving first information for one or more first measurement reference signals (RSs) from a first cell to measure for determining a downlink (DL) timing difference, receiving second information for one or more second measurement RSs from a second cell to measure for determining the DL timing difference, and receiving a configuration for reporting the DL timing difference between the first and second cells. The method further includes measuring, based on the first and second information, the first and second measurement RSs, respectively; determining, based on the first and second measured measurement RSs, a timing difference report for the first and second cells; and transmitting, based on the configuration, the timing difference report to one or more of the first and second cells.