Key Accounting and Tax Year Dates
Use our interactive calendar to stay on top of the key tax year dates which affect your business.
April6th2026
New tax year starts
The first day of a new tax year often means new tax rates, thresholds and rules come into force. This might mean tax rates and thresholds have changed.
Check rates and rules for the current tax year in our guide.May31st2026
Issue P60s
Provide each employee with a copy of their P60. This document shows how much tax they paid on their salary in the preceding tax year.
July31st2026
Payments on account - second instalment
If you need to make payments on account towards next year's Self Assessment tax bill, the second payment is due 31st July.
August7th2026
MTD Income Tax - First Quarterly Update
If you use MTD Income Tax, this is the deadline to submit your first quarterly update (covering the period 6th April 2026 to 5th July 2026).
October5th2026
Register for Self Assessment
If you’re not already registered for Self Assessment and need to submit a tax return for the 2025/26 tax year, you must sign up for Self Assessment by 5th October 2026.
October31st2026
Self Assessment tax return submission deadline if you submit a paper form
If you're filing your 2025/26 Self Assessment using a paper return form, the deadline to submit is 31st October 2026.
November7th2026
MTD Income Tax - Second Quarterly Update
If you use MTD Income Tax, this is the deadline to submit your second quarterly update (covering the period 6th April 2026 to 5th October 2026).
December30th2026
Self Assessment tax return submission deadline if you pay your tax bill through your tax code
The deadline to submit online is normally 31st January but you’ll need to submit slightly earlier, by midnight 30th December, if you want to request that HMRC collect the tax you owe through PAYE.
January31st2027
Self Assessment tax return deadline if you submit online
The reporting deadline for a Self Assessment tax return covering the 2025/26 tax year is midnight 31st January 2027.
You might still need to send a Self Assessment tax return for your 2025/26 income and expenses, even if you have started using MTD Income Tax for the 2026/27 tax year.
January31st2027
Pay your Self Assessment tax bill
The last date to finish paying your 2025/26 Self Assessment tax bill is 31st January 2027.
February7th2027
MTD Income Tax - Third Quarterly Update
If you use MTD Income Tax, this is the deadline to submit your third quarterly update (covering the period 6th April 2026 to 5th January 2027).
April5th2027
Tax year ends
The final day of the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
April5th2027
Corporation Tax payment deadline
Your company's bill for Corporation Tax must be paid within 9 months and 1 day of the company's financial year end. The payment deadline is earlier than the final date for submitting your Company Tax Return!
April5th2027
Annual Accounts filing deadline
Annual accounts are a collection of financial statements summarising a company or LLP's activity over its financial year. You must submit these to Companies House no later than 9 months following your year-end date.
April5th2027
Company Tax Return deadline
The deadline to send your Company Tax Return (sometimes called a CT600) is 12 months from the end of the financial accounting period it relates to.
May7th2027
MTD Income Tax - Fourth Quarterly Update
If you use MTD Income Tax, this is the deadline to submit your final quarterly update (covering the period 6th April 2026 to 5th April 2027).
May31st2027
Issue P60s
Provide each employee with a copy of their P60. This document shows how much tax they paid on their salary in the preceding tax year.
July31st2027
Payments on account - second instalment
If you need to make payments on account towards next year's Self Assessment tax bill, the second payment is due 31st July.
January31st2028
MTD Income Tax Final Submission
If you use MTD Income Tax, this is the deadline to submit your MTD Income Tax Final Submission for the 2026/27 tax year.
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 2026/27, which runs 6th April 2026 - 5th April 2027.
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. Any changes to tax rates and allowances normally take place at the start of a new tax year.
What happens if I can’t pay my tax bill on time?
If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay your tax bill on time, contact HMRC as soon as possible. You might be able to set up a Time to Pay payment plan. It’s usually much better to speak to HMRC before the deadline, helping to avoid any additional penalties on top of your tax bill.
Monitoring your cash flow throughout the year can help you make sure you have enough funds available to run your business and pay your tax bill on time. It’s useful to set aside a portion of each payment you receive, so you have enough ready to cover your tax bill. Lots of business owners also find it useful to use bookkeeping software which estimates their tax bill each time they update their records, helping them prepare in advance.
How do I keep track of key dates in my business?
Running your own business means there’s a lot to think about, but keeping track of tax dates and reporting deadlines throughout the year is essential. Your tax dates calendar can vary depending on what sort of business you run, and whether you use contractors, employ staff, or you’re VAT registered.
We’ve put together a calendar to help you stay on top of the key tax year dates which apply to your business. These deadlines are the latest dates you should take action to avoid penalties, but there might be times when acting earlier is better for your business! If you’re one of our clients, we’ll send reminders to let you know when important deadlines are on the horizon. You’ll also have your own personalised tax and reporting timeline in Client Hub, so you’ll always know exactly what to do, and when.
FAQs
The key tax date timeline for MTD Income Tax
You’ll need to use MTD Income Tax to record and report your income to HMRC if the total amount you earn from property and/or as a sole trader is more than:
- £50,000 during the 2024/25 tax year – follow the rules from April 2026
- £30,000 during the 2025/26 tax year – follow the MTD IT rules from April 2027
- £20,000 during the 2026/27 tax year – follow the rules from April 2028
Each quarterly update for MTD Income Tax includes the previous quarter, so the time periods covered by each update are:
- Update 1: 6th April to 5th July
- Update 2: 6th April to 5th October
- Update 3: 6th April to 5th January
- Update 4: 6th April to 5th April
The submission deadline for an MTD Income Tax quarterly update is the 7th day of the month which comes after the end of the time-period covered by the update. For example, the first quarterly reporting period is 6th April to 5th July. The last day to submit your update for this period is the 7th day of the month which comes after this; 7th August.
MTD Income Tax reporting starts for the 2026/27 tax year, so you might still need to send a Self Assessment tax return in the normal way for the 2025/26 tax year.
Essential tax dates to remember for Self Assessment
You’ll need to sign-up for Self Assessment if you need to submit a tax return for the first time. The deadline to register is 5th October following the end of the tax year you need to report on.
For example, if you need to report income you received in the 2025/26 tax year (6th April 2025 - 5th April 2026), make sure you register for Self Assessment no later than 5th October 2026.
This depends on whether you submit your tax return online or through the post, and whether you want to pay your tax bill through your tax code.
You don’t have to wait for the deadline (and there are lots of good reasons why submitting it earlier might be better), and can file your Self Assessment return after the end of the tax year it relates to. Just make sure you submit it on time to avoid penalties!
- 31st October – Paper return forms
- 30th December – To pay your bill through your tax code
- 31st January – Online submissions
Missing the submission deadline usually results in an automatic £100 penalty. Further penalties will be added if more time passes without filing your tax return.
Learn more about how our Self Assessment accounting services can help you.
The last date to finish paying your Self Assessment tax bill is 31st January following the end of the tax year that you owe money for.
For example, the deadline to pay your 2025/26 tax bill (6th April 2025 - 5th April 2026) is 31st January 2027. The payment deadline won’t change, even if you submit your tax return much sooner.
If your tax bill is more than £1,000 you might also need to make payments on account. These are advance payments towards the following year’s tax bill, so can come as a nasty shock if you’re not prepared!
If you need to make advance payments towards next year’s Self Assessment tax bill, the second instalment is due by 31st July.
For example, if you are making payments on account for your 2025/26 tax return (6th April 2025 - 5th April 2026), the second instalment is due before midnight on 31st July 2026.
Tax dates and deadlines for limited companies
Running your own limited company means there are several tax dates to be aware of, though reporting deadlines vary from one company to another depending on when your year end is.
A company’s financial year is a 12-month period which ends on the last day of the calendar month. This is normally one year on from the date the company was formed, although it can sometimes be changed by special request.
Your tax reporting responsibilities include:
- Submitting annual accounts to Companies House: 9 months from your year-end date
- Filing your CT600 Company Tax Return to HMRC: 12 months from year end
- Paying your company’s Corporation Tax bill: 9 months and 1 day after year end
- Providing a confirmation statement to Companies House: 12 months from the date of formation (or your last statement)
You must submit annual accounts to Companies House no later than 9 months from the date that your company’s financial year ends.
For example, if your company’s year end is 31st March 2026, your annual accounts are due 31st December 2026.
Company Tax Returns must be submitted to HMRC within 12 months of the company’s financial year ending.
So, if year end is 31st March 2026, you must submit your return before 31st March 2027.
The bit that confuses most people is that the deadline to pay Corporation Tax is actually earlier than the last date for submitting your tax return. You’ll need to pay your company’s tax bill within 9 months and 1 day of the financial year ending.
Using our example year-end date of 31st March 2026, the deadline to pay your Corporation Tax bill is 1st January 2027.
The due date for submitting your confirmation statement is normally one year on from the date your company was formed, or from the date of your last statement. You have 14 days after the due date to file.
VAT reporting and registration deadlines
VAT registered businesses must make regular Making Tax Digital VAT submissions to HMRC. Most businesses make submissions on a quarterly basis, but this can vary depending on the type of VAT scheme that you use.
The deadline to make a monthly or quarterly submission and pay any VAT owed is one calendar month and seven days following the end of the VAT period that the return relates to.
For example, if your VAT period ends 31st March, the deadline to make a submission for it is 7th May. The VAT payment to HMRC must also have cleared by that date too, so make sure you give yourself enough time!
If your business uses the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme you’ll send a submission once a year, but you’ll need to make regular advance payments (either monthly or quarterly) towards your expected VAT bill.
Your business must sign up to become VAT registered if its total taxable turnover for the preceding 12-month period reaches the £90,000 registration threshold.
Key tax dates for employers
You’ll need to register as an employer for PAYE if any of your employees are paid £96 a week or more, even if you’re the only employee. You must become PAYE registered before the first payday, up to a maximum of 2 months beforehand.
You should make a Full Payment Submission (FPS) on or before each payday to tell HMRC about any payments and deductions you make to employees. You’ll also need to tell HMRC if you’re making the last one of the tax year (which ends 5th April).
Send an Employer Payment Summary (EPS) by the 19th of every month to tell HMRC about any statutory payments or the apprenticeship levy that you’re reclaiming for the previous tax month. A tax month starts on the 6th and finishes on the 5th of the following month.
For example, if you need to submit an Employer Payment Summary (EPS) for the tax month which starts 6th June and ends 5th July, the deadline is 19th July.
Any increases to National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage normally take effect at the start of a new tax year. A tax year starts 6th April, and ends the following 5th April. You can check the latest rates for minimum pay in our guide.
The deadline to send PAYE deductions and employer National Insurance Contributions to HMRC is the 22nd of the following month (or the 19th if you pay by post).
For instance, if you report payroll data for March, you’ll have until 22nd April to pay online.
Essential deadlines and reporting dates for contractors
Contractors who pay subcontractors must submit a CIS Return to tell HMRC about their subcontractors’ pay and deductions by the 19th after the tax month ends. For example, if you need to send a return for the tax month 6th May to 5th June, it must reach HMRC by 19th June.
CIS deductions must be paid to HMRC by the 22nd (or the 19th if you’re paying by post) after the tax month ends.
For example, an online payment for deductions relating to the tax month 6th May to 5th June must reach HMRC by 22nd June.
Make sure subcontractors receive their CIS statement within 14 days of the tax month it relates to ending. For CIS reporting purposes a tax month runs from the 6th to the 5th, so CIS statements should be issued by the 19th of the following month. It’s the same as the CIS Return deadline.