What date does the tax year start?
A tax year, also known as a fiscal year, is the 12-month period which starts 6th April, and ends 5th April the following year. The current tax year is 2025/26, which runs 6th April 2025 - 5th April 2026.
For most individuals, this is the period HMRC uses to calculate their total earnings in order to determine what rate of tax they pay for the year, as well as their eligibility for allowances and reliefs. Some businesses, such as sole traders, use this as the basis for their financial reporting, and any changes to tax rates and allowances normally take place at the start of a new tax year.