UK tax year dates and deadlines 2025-26

Running a business can be challenging, with responsibilities and legal obligations at every turn. This makes it easy for important dates and deadlines to pass unnoticed. To help you stay organised and compliant, we’ve compiled a list of the UK tax year dates in 2025-26 that may affect you and your business.

This handy guide covers key requirements and deadlines for limited companies, limited liability partnerships, Self Assessment customers, employers, and VAT-registered businesses. It also outlines important tax changes and other notable measures taking effect at the start of the new tax year.

When does the UK tax year start and end?

The UK tax year commences on 6 April and ends on 5 April the following year – for example, the 2025-26 tax year runs from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026. Sometimes referred to as the fiscal year, the tax year is the 12-month period that governments use to assess and manage the taxation of individuals, including employees, directors, shareholders, and the self-employed.

The tax year should not be confused with the calendar year (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025) or the UK financial year (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026). The UK financial year is the 12-month period that the government uses for Corporation Tax, accounting, and financial reporting purposes.

Most limited companies initially have a different financial year based on their incorporation date. However, many companies change their accounting reference date (financial year-end) to align their reporting with the government’s financial year.

Various changes usually take effect at the start of the UK tax year (or shortly beforehand), so you should check to see what they are and whether they apply to you. These may include changes to tax rates and thresholds, National Insurance contributions (NICs), pensions, ISAs, the minimum wage, and statutory pay rates.

Organisation is crucial if you’re self-employed or running a limited company, so make sure you mark important tax year dates and deadlines in your calendar and set reminders. This will help you stay compliant and avoid penalties for late filings or payments.

You should also take the time to determine which expenses you can claim and whether you’re entitled to any tax reliefs, allowances, or exemptions. An accountant or tax advisor is the best person to help you with this.

1. Limited company tax year dates and deadlines 2025-26

UK limited companies have various filing and reporting deadlines to meet throughout the tax year. The exact dates vary from company to company, depending on their date of incorporation, accounting reference date (ARD), and Corporation Tax accounting period.

The table below shows the statutory requirements and corresponding deadlines you must remember as a company director or company secretary.

Statutory requirement	Deadline
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC	No later than 3 months after starting to do business.
Pay Corporation Tax	No later than 9 months and 1 day after the end of your company’s accounting period for Corporation Tax
File a Company Tax Return (CT600) and full annual accounts with HMRC	Deliver to HMRC no later than 12 months after the end of the Corporation Tax accounting period
File an annual confirmation statement with Companies House	No later than 14 days after the anniversary of incorporation or the date you filed the last statement
Prepare and file annual accounts for Companies House	9 months after the company’s ARD (or within 21 months of incorporation if you’re filing your first accounts)

Late filing penalties for limited companies

Companies House and HMRC impose penalties for late filings and payments. In the most serious cases, companies can be struck off the register, while directors can be personally fined and prosecuted.

2. Limited liability partnership (LLP) tax year dates and deadlines

Unlike limited companies, which are directly liable to taxation, limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are pass-through entities. This means that LLPs don’t pay tax on profits. Instead, profits pass through the LLP to the self-employed members (partners), who are each liable to pay Income Tax and Class 4 NICs through Self Assessment on their share of the profits.

However, while LLPs are transparent for tax purposes, they must send an annual Partnership Tax Return to HMRC. LLPs must also file annual accounts and an annual confirmation statement with Companies House. The deadlines for these filings are set out below:

Statutory requirement	Deadline
File an annual confirmation statement	No later than 14 days after the anniversary of incorporation or the date you filed the last statement
File LLP accounts	9 months after the LLP’s accounting reference date However, the deadline is different for the first LLP accounts: If the accounts cover a period of more than 12 months, file within 21 months of incorporation or 3 months from the ARD (whichever is longer) If they cover a period of 12 months or less, file within 21 months of incorporation
Send a Partnership Tax Return	Partnerships with individuals as partners: Paper returns – file by 31 October following the end of the tax year (unless the notice to file is issued after 31 July, then it’s 3 months from the date the notice is issued) Online returns – file by 31 January following the end of the tax year (unless the notice is issued after 31 October, then it’s 3 months from the date the notice is issued) Partnerships with companies as partners: Paper returns – 9 months from the end of the period specified in the notice (unless the notice is given after 9 months from the end of that specified period, then it’s 3 months from the date the notice is issued) Online returns – 12 months from the end of the period specified in the notice (unless the notice is given after 31 October, then it’s 3 months from the date the notice is issued)

3. Self Assessment tax year dates and deadlines 2025-26

If you’re self-employed. receive dividends from shares, or need to send a Self Assessment tax return for any other reason, there are several important deadlines you need to know about. These are shown below:

Statutory requirement	Deadline
File an online Self Assessment tax return for the 2023-24 tax year	31 January 2025
Pay your Self Assessment bill (in full or the balancing payment, whichever applies) for the 2023-24 tax year	31 January 2025
Make the first ‘payment on account’ (advance payment) towards your 2024-25 tax bill	31 January 2025
Claim any overpaid tax from the 2019-20 tax year	5 April 2025
Make the second payment on account towards your 2024-25 tax bill	31 July 2025
Register for Self Assessment if you need to send a tax return for the 2024-25 tax year and you’ve never filed before	5 October 2025
Submit a paper tax return for the 2024-25 tax year (if you cannot file online)	31 October 2025
Ask HMRC to automatically collect your Self Assessment tax through your PAYE tax code (optional)	30 December 2025
File an online tax return for the 2024-25 tax year	31 January 2026
Pay your Self Assessment bill (in full or the balancing payment) for the 2024-25 tax year	31 January 2026
First payment on account towards your 2025-26 bill	31 January 2026
Claim any overpaid tax from the 2020-21 tax year	5 April 2026

What happens if my tax return is late?

If your Self Assessment tax return is late, even by one day, HMRC will impose an automatic late filing penalty of £100. Additional penalties will apply if your tax return is more than 3, 6, or 12 months late.

If you fail to pay your Self Assessment bill by the 31 January payment deadline, you will also incur late payment penalties and interest charges.

4. Tax year dates and deadlines for employers (PAYE and payroll)

As an employer, you must be mindful of several tax year dates and deadlines to ensure you stay compliant. If you process employees’ wages (including directors’ salaries) through Pay As You Earn (PAYE), you’ll need to send regular payroll reports to HMRC and pay any tax and National Insurance you owe through PAYE. The key deadlines are shown below:

Statutory requirement	Deadline
Register as an employer	Up to 4 weeks before the first payday but no more than 2 months in advance
Send a Full Payment Submission (FPS) to report employees’ payments and deductions	On or before each payday
Issue payslips to employees	On or before each payday
Pay your PAYE bill	By the 22nd of the following tax month (or by the 19th if paying by cheque) You may be able to pay quarterly instead of monthly if your bill is usually less than £1,500 per month
Send final FPS for the 2024-25 tax year	On or before your employees’ last payday of the tax year – no later than 5 April 2025
Send an Employer Payment Summary (EPS) to apply for any reductions to your PAYE bill (e.g. reclaiming statutory pay or applying for the Employment Allowance)	By the 19th of the following tax month
Update employee payroll records and payroll software for the new tax year	From 6 April 2025
Provide a P60 to every employee who was on your payroll on the last day of the tax year (5 April 2025)	By 31 May 2025
Report employee expenses and benefits and submit your P11D and P11D(b) forms Provide a copy of the information to employees Report total Class 1A National Insurance you owe	No later than 6 July 2025
Pay Class 1A National Insurance	By 22 July 2025 (or 19 July 2025 if paying by cheque)

6. VAT registration and reporting deadlines

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax applied to the sale price of almost all goods and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. These businesses must apply, collect, and pay VAT to HMRC at the end of their accounting periods.

You must register for VAT if your VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000. Voluntary VAT registration is an option if your turnover is below this threshold.

As a VAT-registered business, you’ll usually submit a VAT Return every 3 months (so 4 returns per year). If you owe any VAT, you’ll need to pay your bill at the same time. However, different rules apply if you join the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme (AAS).

The table below shows the deadlines for VAT registration, sending a VAT Return, and paying your bill.

Statutory requirement	Deadline
Register for VAT	If your total taxable turnover for the last 12 months exceeds £90,000 – register within 30 days of the end of the month you exceeded the threshold If you realise you’re going to exceed the threshold in the next 30 days – register by the end of that 30-day period
Send a VAT Return	1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of your quarterly VAT accounting period If you join the AAS, the deadline is 2 months after the end of your 12-month VAT accounting period
Pay your VAT bill	1 calendar month and 7 days after the end of your accounting period If you join the AAS, you’ll make weekly or monthly advance payments towards your bill, then a final payment when you send your VAT Return
Make VAT ‘payments on account’ (advance payments towards your VAT bill)	By the last working day of the second and third months of every VAT quarter (regardless of your accounting period end date)

7. Key changes in the new tax year 2025-26

The start of the UK tax year is typically when new measures are introduced and certain changes take effect, such as new tax rates and thresholds, adjustments to tax-free allowances, and annual increases to statutory pay.

Here’s an overview of some key tax year changes that may affect you in 2025-26. Most of these were announced during the 2024 Autumn Budget.

National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage

From 1 April 2025, the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates will increase based on the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission. Employers must ensure all staff on the NLW or NMW receive the new hourly rate from that date.

Wage rate category	New hourly rate from 1 April 2025
National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over)	£12.21
18-20 year olds	£10.00
16-17 year olds	£7.55
Apprentice rate	£7.55

Employer National Insurance and Employment Allowance

From 6 April 2025, the rate of employer (secondary) Class 1 National Insurance contributions will increase from 13.8% to 15%. Class 1A and Class 1B employer NIC rates will also increase in line with this.

The Secondary Threshold will be reduced from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year. This is the earnings threshold at which employers become liable to secondary NICs on salaries or wages. The £5,000 threshold will remain in effect until 5 April 2028, thereafter rising in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

The maximum Employment Allowance will also change, increasing from £5,000 to £10,500 a year. Moreover, the £100,000 eligibility restriction will be scrapped, meaning more businesses and charities can claim the Employment Allowance and reduce their secondary Class 1 NIC liability.

New statutory pay rates

The following changes to statutory pay rates for employees will take effect from 6 April 2025:

• Statutory Sick Pay will increase from £116.75 to £118.75 per week
• Statutory Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay, Adoption Pay, Shared Parental Pay, and Parental Bereavement Pay will increase from £184.03 to £187.18 per week
• Maternity Allowance payments will also rise from £184.03 to £187.18 per week

The weekly earnings threshold for an employee to qualify for Statutory Sick Pay or family payments will increase from £123 to £125. The threshold to be eligible for Maternity Allowance will remain at £30 per week.

Business Asset Disposal Relief and Investors’ Relief

The Capital Gains Tax rate that applies to Business Asset Disposal Relief (previously Entrepreneurs’ Relief) and Investors’ Relief will increase from 10% to 14% for disposals made on or after 6 April 2025, then from 14% to 18% for disposals made on or after 6 April 2026.

Scottish Income Tax

Some minor inflationary adjustments to Scottish Income Tax thresholds will take effect from 6 April 2026. The rates for the 2025-26 tax year are shown in the table below:

Scottish Income Tax band	Taxable income threshold	Scottish Income Tax rate
Personal Allowance	Up to £12,570	0%
Starter rate	£12,571 to £14,876	19%
Basic rate	£14,877 to £26,561	20%
Intermediate rate	£26,562 to £43,662	21%
Higher rate	£43,663 to £75,000	42%
Advanced rate	£75,001 to £125,140	45%
Top rate	Over £125,140	48%

If you live in Scotland, you’ll pay Scottish Income Tax on your wages, self-employed earnings, pension, and most other forms of taxable income. However, you will pay the same tax as the rest of the UK on dividend income and savings interest.

Pension changes

In line with the State Pension ‘triple lock’ guarantee, both types of State Pension will increase by 4.1% from April 2025.  The full basic State Pension will go up from £169.50 to £176.45 per week, while the full new State Pension will increase from £221.20 to £230.25 per week.

Additionally, the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee will increase by 4.1% in line with earnings, resulting in a weekly amount of £227.10 for single claimants and £346.60 for couples.

Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL)

From April 2025, the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime will be abolished. Income and gains from FHL properties will instead form part of the person’s UK or overseas property business and be subject to tax treatment in line with all other income and gains from property.

Business rates

The business rates relief scheme for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties in England has been extended. For the 2025-26 tax year, the scheme will provide eligible occupied RHL properties with 40% relief on their business rates liability, subject to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

The small business multiplier (rateable value below £51,000) has been frozen at 49.9p for 2025-26, while the standard multiplier (rateable value of £51,000 or more) will increase from 54.6p to 55.5p.

Income tax rates

There are no changes to UK Income Tax rates or thresholds for 2025-26. These apply to individual taxpayers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Different rates apply if you live in Scotland.

National Insurance contributions payable by employees

There are no changes to the rates of primary Class 1 National Insurance contributions or Class 4 NICs. Class 1 is payable by employees and company directors, while Class 4 NICs apply to self-employed individuals.

However, voluntary National Insurance rates will increase slightly for 2025-26. Class 2 NICs will rise to £3.50 per week, while Class 3 NICs will increase to £17.75 per week.

Dividend allowance

The dividend allowance for 2025-26 will remain unchanged at £500. This means that company shareholders will continue to receive the first £500 of dividend income from shares tax-free.

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We hope this guide to UK tax year dates and deadlines is helpful. Please comment below if you have any questions.

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