September 18, 2026

Whether you are an individual, sole trader, landlord, or business, you need to keep track of UK tax deadlines. If you miss a tax return or payment deadline, you may get penalties and interest, depending on the type of tax involved. From Self Assessment and Value Added Tax (VAT) to Corporation Tax and Making Tax Digital (MTD), different taxes have different deadlines. Understanding these dates can help you plan your tax payments and avoid unnecessary HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) penalties. This guide explains the key tax deadlines for the 2026/27 tax year and related filing periods. It covers: Tax deadlines for self-assessment Corporation Tax deadline VAT return deadline Income Tax deadline UK After reading this blog, you will manage your money effectively and avoid costly fines. What Are the Key UK Tax Deadlines? The tax deadlines you need to meet depend on your circumstances and the type of tax you pay. In some cases, your accounting period or tax scheme also decides the tax deadlines. If you are a UK taxpayer, you need to remember these important deadlines: Self Assessment tax return and payment deadlines. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) reporting and payment deadlines for employers. VAT return and payment deadlines. Corporation Tax payment and Company Tax Return filing deadlines. MTD reporting deadlines for taxpayers who are required to use it. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reporting and payment deadlines in certain circumstances. You need to check the specific deadline that applies to you. UK tax deadlines can vary depending on your accounting period, tax obligations, payment arrangements, and individual circumstances. When Does the UK Tax Year Start and End? In the UK, the personal tax year starts on 6 April and ends on 5 April the following year. Therefore, the 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. This tax year is used to calculate your Income Tax. If you are required to complete a Self Assessment tax return, you need to report relevant income and tax liabilities. However, limited companies do not usually follow the personal tax year for Corporation Tax. Instead, they normally have their own accounting period, linked to their financial year. A Corporation Tax accounting period cannot normally be longer than 12 months. Let’s understand the key accounting and tax year dates. What Are the UK Tax Deadlines for Self Assessment? Important tax deadlines for those who are required to file a Self Assessment tax return are mentioned in the table below: Self Assessment requirement  Deadline for 2025/26  Register for Self Assessment 5 October 2026 Paper tax return 31 October 2026 Online tax return 31 January 2027 Tax payment 31 January 2027 Second payment on account, where applicable 31 July 2027 Note: These deadlines are for the 2025/26 tax year. Also, your exact obligations may vary depending on your circumstances. Keep in mind that not everyone who files a Self Assessment return has to make payments on account. HMRC requires them where the relevant tax liability meets the applicable conditions. Don’t forget HMRC tax payment deadlines. What is the VAT Return Deadline? One of the most important UK tax deadlines to discuss is the VAT return deadline. If your business is VAT registered, then you must submit your VAT Return and pay any VAT due by the relevant deadline. For most VAT Returns, the deadline is one calendar month and 7 days after the end of the accounting period. For instance, if your quarterly VAT period ends on 30 July, the deadline is usually 7 September. However, different rules apply to some VAT schemes. For example, the Annual Accounting Scheme requires the return to be submitted 2 months after the end of the accounting period. What is the Corporation Tax Deadline? If you are a limited company, you have separate UK tax deadlines for paying Corporation Tax and filing your Company Tax Return. For most UK companies with taxable profits of up to £1.5 million, Corporation Tax is due 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period. Additionally, the Company Tax Return is generally due 12 months after the end of the accounting period. For example, if the accounting period ends on 30 April, Corporation Tax is generally due by 1 February. The Company Tax Return is due by 30 April of the following year. If your Company has taxable profits above £1.5 million, you may have to pay Corporation Tax in instalments, so different payment deadlines can apply. What are the PAYE UK Tax Deadlines? Employers in the UK operating PAYE must report payroll information (via Full Payment Submissions) and pay the PAYE tax and National Insurance (NI) due to HMRC. If you are paying electronically, PAYE payments are due by the 22nd of the following tax month. However, quarterly payment arrangements have different deadlines. Keeping payroll records accurate and submitting information on time can help you avoid unnecessary penalties and interest. What are Making Tax Digital Deadlines? From 6 April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will apply to eligible sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 based on the relevant previous tax year. The threshold will fall to over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028. If you fall within MTD requirements, you must keep digital records, use compatible software and send quarterly updates to HMRC. In addition, you must submit your tax return and pay any tax due by 31 January following the tax year. What are the Capital Gains Tax Deadlines? If you sell or dispose of UK residential property and CGT is due, you need to report the gain and pay the tax within 60 days of completion. Other capital gains are generally reported through Self Assessment. However, eligible taxpayers may be able to use HMRC’s real-time CGT service. What Happens If You Miss UK Tax Deadlines? If you miss a tax deadline, you may incur penalties. For late payments, you may incur interest. For example, HMRC can charge penalties for filing a Self