UK Tax Year Dates and Deadlines 2026-2027 Key Filing Dates

Understanding key UK tax year dates and deadlines is essential for business owners, directors, landlords, and self-employed individuals. Missing a deadline can lead to penalties, interest, and unnecessary stress.

Here are the most important tax year dates and deadlines for 2026-2027 so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises.

When Does the 2026-2027 Tax Year Start and End?

The UK tax year runs from:

6 April 2026
To 5 April 2027

All income, gains, and tax allowances within this period fall into the 2026-2027 tax year.

Self Assessment Deadlines 2026-2027

If you complete a Self Assessment tax return, these are the key dates to note:

5 October 2027 – Deadline to register for Self Assessment if newly required
31 October 2027 – Paper tax return deadline
31 January 2028 – Online tax return deadline
31 January 2028 – Deadline to pay any tax owed for 2026-2027
31 January 2028 – First payment on account for 2027-2028
31 July 2028 – Second payment on account for 2027-2028

Missing the 31 January deadline triggers automatic penalties.

Corporation Tax Deadlines 2026-2027

If you operate through a limited company, corporation tax deadlines depend on your accounting period.

In general:

Corporation tax must be paid 9 months and 1 day after the end of your accounting period
Company tax returns must be filed within 12 months of the accounting period end

For example, if your company year ends on 31 March 2027:

Corporation tax payment deadline – 1 January 2028
Company tax return filing deadline – 31 March 2028

Always confirm your company year-end to avoid confusion.

VAT Deadlines 2026-2027

VAT deadlines depend on your filing frequency.

For quarterly VAT returns:

Returns and payments are usually due 1 month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period

For example, a VAT quarter ending 30 June 2026 would typically be due by 7 August 2026.

Businesses using Making Tax Digital must submit VAT returns through compatible software.

PAYE and Payroll Deadlines 2026-2027

If you run payroll for employees, these deadlines apply:

Real Time Information submissions must be made on or before each payday
PAYE and National Insurance payments are generally due by the 22nd of the following month if paying electronically
5 April 2027 – End of payroll tax year
6 July 2027 – Deadline to submit P11D forms and pay Class 1A National Insurance

Late payroll submissions can result in penalties.

Capital Gains Tax Reporting Deadlines

If you sell UK residential property and owe Capital Gains Tax, you must usually:

Report and pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completion

This applies separately from your annual Self Assessment tax return.

Dividend and Pension Planning Deadlines

Before 5 April 2027, review:

Dividend payments taken during the tax year
Pension contributions to use annual allowance
Gift Aid donations
Capital gains allowances

After 5 April, opportunities for that tax year are fixed.

Key Planning Date – 5 April 2027

5 April 2027 marks the end of the tax year.

Before this date, you can:

Adjust income timing
Make pension contributions
Realise gains or losses
Review extraction strategies
Assess payments on account

After this date, planning becomes retrospective.

Why Tracking Tax Year Deadlines Matters

Most tax penalties are avoidable. They arise not from complexity, but from missed dates.

Keeping a clear schedule of tax year deadlines allows you to:

Plan cashflow properly
Avoid last-minute decisions
Reduce stress
Make deliberate tax planning choices

Businesses that track deadlines consistently are rarely surprised by them.

The 2026-2027 tax year includes multiple filing and payment deadlines across Self Assessment, corporation tax, VAT, payroll, and Capital Gains Tax.

Marking these dates early and reviewing them periodically reduces risk and creates space for proper planning.

If you would like help aligning your business calendar with tax year deadlines, our team is here to support you.