UK tax deadlines 2026-27: a month-by-month HMRC calendar for practices
Written by the Mipp team
Published: 8 October 2026 | Last checked against GOV.UK: 8 October 2026 | Accurate as of October 2026
These are the main HMRC and UK tax deadlines for 2026-27, plus the key Companies House deadlines, from October 2026 to September 2027, in date order, with the day of the week and a GOV.UK source for each. Deadlines that depend on a client's year end or VAT period are explained after the calendar, with worked examples. Always check each date against GOV.UK for your client's own circumstances.
Six fixed dates in this period fall at a weekend: 31 October 2026, 7 November 2026, 31 January 2027, 7 February 2027, 31 July 2027 and 7 August 2027. Several monthly payment dates do too. They are marked in bold below.
UK tax year dates 2026-27
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. The 2026-27 tax year started on Monday 6 April 2026 and ends on Monday 5 April 2027 (GOV.UK).
| Tax year | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Sunday 6 April 2025 | Sunday 5 April 2026 |
| 2026/27 | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 5 April 2027 |
Self Assessment deadlines 2026-27
The Self Assessment deadlines that fall in the 2026-27 tax year are for 2025/26 returns (GOV.UK):
- Paper return: 11:59pm on Saturday 31 October 2026.
- Online return: 11:59pm on Sunday 31 January 2027, or 30 December 2026 if the client wants the bill collected through their PAYE tax code.
- Balancing payment for 2025/26 and first payment on account for 2026/27: Sunday 31 January 2027.
- Second payment on account for 2026/27: Saturday 31 July 2027.
Returns for income in the 2026-27 tax year itself follow the same rules a year later: paper by 31 October 2027 (a Sunday) and online by 31 January 2028 (a Monday). These dates are not on GOV.UK's deadlines page yet, so check them there before you rely on them.
Key HMRC deadlines at a glance
| Date | Day | Deadline | Who it applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | Saturday | Paper Self Assessment return for 2025/26 | Paper filers | GOV.UK |
| 7 November 2026 | Saturday | Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update (6 April to 5 October 2026) | Sole traders and landlords in MTD | GOV.UK |
| 30 December 2026 | Wednesday | Online return, if the bill is to be collected through a PAYE tax code | Eligible clients owing under £3,000 | GOV.UK |
| 31 January 2027 | Sunday | Online Self Assessment return for 2025/26; balancing payment and first payment on account. See our Self Assessment season plan | Self Assessment taxpayers | GOV.UK |
| 7 February 2027 | Sunday | MTD quarterly update (6 April 2026 to 5 January 2027) | Sole traders and landlords in MTD | GOV.UK |
| 5 April 2027 | Monday | End of the 2026/27 tax year | Everyone | GOV.UK |
| 6 April 2027 | Tuesday | Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts for qualifying income over £30,000 for 2025/26 | Sole traders and landlords | GOV.UK |
| 7 May 2027 | Friday | MTD quarterly update (full 2026/27 tax year) | Sole traders and landlords in MTD | GOV.UK |
| 31 May 2027 | Monday (bank holiday) | P60s to employees for 2026/27 | Employers | GOV.UK |
| 6 July 2027 | Tuesday | P11D and P11D(b) for 2026/27 | Employers with benefits not payrolled | GOV.UK |
| 22 July 2027 | Thursday | Class 1A National Insurance for 2026/27 (19 July if paying by post) | Employers with benefits | GOV.UK |
| 31 July 2027 | Saturday | Second payment on account for 2026/27 | Self Assessment taxpayers | GOV.UK |
| 7 August 2027 | Saturday | First MTD quarterly update for 2027/28 | Sole traders and landlords in MTD | GOV.UK |
The 5 October 2026 deadline to register for Self Assessment has passed. Anyone who registered later gets an HMRC letter or email with a filing deadline 3 months from its date, but must still pay by 31 January 2027 (GOV.UK). Our guide on who needs to do a Self Assessment tax return covers the criteria and a notice to file.
What happens when an HMRC deadline falls at a weekend
The rule depends on the tax and on whether you are filing or paying.
- Self Assessment returns: the online deadline is 11:59pm on 31 January 2027, even though it is a Sunday (GOV.UK).
- Self Assessment payments: if the deadline falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the payment must reach HMRC on the last working day before, unless paid by Faster Payments or by debit or corporate credit card (GOV.UK). For 31 January 2027 that is Friday 29 January.
- VAT: the return must be submitted and the payment must reach HMRC on or before the deadline, even if it is on a weekend or bank holiday (GOV.UK). In practice, pay early.
- PAYE and CIS payments: GOV.UK says HMRC accepts card payments on the date you make them, even at weekends and on bank holidays, and Faster Payments usually reach HMRC the same or next day, including weekends. Bacs usually takes 3 working days (GOV.UK). If you pay by Bacs or cheque, allow for weekends and bank holidays and pay early.
Monthly deadlines that repeat
PAYE. Employers pay HMRC by the 22nd of the next tax month if paying monthly, or the 22nd after the end of the quarter if paying quarterly. Cheque payments must reach HMRC by the 19th (GOV.UK).
CIS. Contractors send their monthly return by the 19th of every month following the last tax month, and pay HMRC by the 22nd (or the 19th by post) (GOV.UK: monthly returns, paying HMRC). See CIS return deadlines for nil returns, penalties and a monthly routine.
Monthly dates in this period that fall at a weekend:
| Date | Day | What is due |
|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2026 | Sunday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 19 December 2026 | Saturday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 May 2027 | Saturday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 19 June 2027 | Saturday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 August 2027 | Sunday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 19 September 2027 | Sunday | CIS monthly return |
Deadlines that depend on each client
These tax dates in the UK move with each client's own year end or VAT period, so they cannot go in a single calendar. Here is the rule for each, with a worked example.
VAT returns and payments
The deadline for submitting a VAT return online and for paying is usually one calendar month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period (GOV.UK). All VAT-registered businesses should now be signed up for Making Tax Digital for VAT (GOV.UK).
Worked example: for a VAT quarter ending 31 December 2026, the return and payment are due by 7 February 2027, a Sunday. The payment must reach HMRC on or before that date, so in practice by Friday 5 February.
Corporation Tax
The Company Tax Return (CT600) is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period. Payment is usually due 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period (GOV.UK: Company Tax Returns). Companies with taxable profits over £1.5 million pay in instalments instead (GOV.UK: pay your Corporation Tax bill).
Worked example: for an accounting period ending 31 March 2026, Corporation Tax is due by 1 January 2027, and the CT600 by 31 March 2027. 1 January 2027 is a Friday and a bank holiday. GOV.UK says HMRC accepts card payments on the date they are made, even on bank holidays, and that Bacs payments usually take 3 working days, so allow for the Christmas bank holidays if paying by Bacs (GOV.UK: pay your Corporation Tax bill).
Companies House annual accounts
A private limited company files annual accounts with Companies House 9 months after its financial year ends. First accounts are due 21 months after the date the company registered with Companies House (GOV.UK). The company accounts filing deadline guide covers the month-end rule, first accounts, confirmation statements and late penalties.
Worked example: for a 31 March 2026 year end, accounts are due at Companies House by 31 December 2026, in the same week as two bank holidays.
Confirmation statement
Every company files at least one confirmation statement every 12 months, and can file up to 14 days after its review period ends. The review period ends 12 months after the confirmation statement date on the last statement, or after incorporation for the first one (GOV.UK).
Practice deadlines that are easy to forget
Alongside client deadlines, every practice has its own: anti-money laundering (AML) supervision renewal and client risk reviews, professional indemnity insurance renewal, practising certificate renewal, the ICO data protection fee and an annual fee review. The dates depend on your supervisor, insurer and professional body, so put your own dates in the same calendar as client work. Practice management software for accountants such as Mipp tracks AML, PII, ICO and practising certificate dates next to client deadlines.
UK tax calendar 2026/27: month by month
Weekend dates are in bold. "Monthly" means the PAYE and CIS dates in the section above.
October 2026
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 19 October | Monday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 October | Thursday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 31 October | Saturday | Paper Self Assessment return for 2025/26 |
Rolling: VAT returns for periods ending 31 August 2026 are due 7 October; for periods ending 30 September, 7 November.
November 2026
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 7 November | Saturday | MTD for Income Tax quarterly update (6 April to 5 October 2026) |
| 19 November | Thursday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 November | Sunday | PAYE and CIS payments |
December 2026
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 19 December | Saturday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 December | Tuesday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 25 and 28 December | Friday, Monday | Bank holidays (England and Wales) |
| 30 December | Wednesday | Online Self Assessment return if the bill is to be collected through a tax code |
Rolling: companies with a 31 March 2026 year end file accounts at Companies House by 31 December.
January 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | Bank holiday. Corporation Tax due for periods ending 31 March 2026 |
| 19 January | Tuesday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 January | Friday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 31 January | Sunday | Online Self Assessment return for 2025/26, balancing payment and first payment on account for 2026/27 |
February 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 7 February | Sunday | MTD for Income Tax quarterly update (6 April 2026 to 5 January 2027). VAT for quarters ending 31 December 2026 |
| 19 February | Friday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 February | Monday | PAYE and CIS payments |
March 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 19 March | Friday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 March | Monday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 26 and 29 March | Friday, Monday | Good Friday and Easter Monday |
| 31 March | Wednesday | CT600 for accounting periods ending 31 March 2026 |
April 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 5 April | Monday | End of the 2026/27 tax year |
| 6 April | Tuesday | MTD for Income Tax starts for qualifying income over £30,000 for 2025/26 |
| 19 April | Monday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 April | Thursday | PAYE and CIS payments, including quarterly PAYE for 6 January to 5 April |
May 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 7 May | Friday | MTD for Income Tax quarterly update covering the full 2026/27 tax year |
| 19 May | Wednesday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 May | Saturday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 31 May | Monday (bank holiday) | P60s to employees |
June 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 19 June | Saturday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 June | Tuesday | PAYE and CIS payments |
July 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 6 July | Tuesday | P11D and P11D(b) for 2026/27 |
| 19 July | Monday | CIS monthly return. Class 1A by post |
| 22 July | Thursday | PAYE and CIS payments, quarterly PAYE for 6 April to 5 July, Class 1A National Insurance |
| 31 July | Saturday | Second Self Assessment payment on account for 2026/27 |
August 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 7 August | Saturday | First MTD for Income Tax quarterly update for 2027/28 |
| 19 August | Thursday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 August | Sunday | PAYE and CIS payments |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
September 2027
| Date | Day | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 19 September | Sunday | CIS monthly return |
| 22 September | Wednesday | PAYE and CIS payments |
Bank holidays are for England and Wales (GOV.UK). Scotland and Northern Ireland have different dates.
How practices keep track of these dates
Retyping this calendar for every client every year is where deadlines get missed. The safer approach is to record each client's details once (entity type, year end, VAT period, payroll, CIS, Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital) and let the dates follow from them.
That is how Mipp works as accounting practice management software for small firms. Enter those details and Mipp schedules the next 12 months of deadlines in one Compliance view, with tabs for VAT, Payroll and PAYE, Accounts and CT, Self Assessment, CIS and My practice. It covers VAT returns, payroll runs, P60s, P11Ds, CT600s, Companies House accounts and confirmation statements, Self Assessment returns, MTD quarterly updates, CIS returns and payments, and auto-enrolment re-declarations, plus practice reminders for AML, PII, ICO registration and your practising certificate. You can subscribe to a private calendar feed so the dates appear in Google, Outlook or Apple calendars.
Mipp does not create tasks for PAYE payments, Self Assessment payments on account or Class 1A payments, and it does not file anything with HMRC. Deadline dates are a planning aid calculated from the information you enter, using standard UK rules. Always check against HMRC and Companies House.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main HMRC deadlines in 2026/27?
For most practices: 31 October 2026 (paper Self Assessment), 30 December 2026 (online return for tax code collection), 31 January 2027 (online Self Assessment return and payment), the Making Tax Digital quarterly updates on 7 November, 7 February, 7 May and 7 August, P60s by 31 May 2027, P11Ds by 6 July 2027 and the second payment on account on 31 July 2027. PAYE and CIS dates repeat every month.
When is the VAT return deadline?
Usually one calendar month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period, for both the return and the payment. The payment must reach HMRC on or before the deadline even if it falls at a weekend (GOV.UK).
When is Corporation Tax due?
Usually 9 months and one day after the end of the accounting period. The CT600 return is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period (GOV.UK).
What happens if an HMRC deadline falls on a weekend?
Online filing deadlines stay on the date shown. For Self Assessment payments, the money must reach HMRC on the last working day before, unless paid by Faster Payments or by debit or corporate credit card. VAT payments must reach HMRC on or before the deadline, even at a weekend.
When do Companies House accounts have to be filed?
Nine months after the financial year ends for a private limited company, or 21 months after registration for first accounts (GOV.UK).
When does Making Tax Digital for Income Tax apply to more clients?
From 6 April 2027 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £30,000 for 2025/26, and from 6 April 2028 for qualifying income over £20,000 for 2026/27 (GOV.UK).
When does the 2026-27 tax year start and end?
The 2026-27 tax year started on 6 April 2026 and ends on 5 April 2027. The Self Assessment deadlines that fall within it are for 2025/26 returns: 31 October 2026 on paper and 31 January 2027 online. Returns for 2026-27 itself are due by 31 October 2027 on paper and 31 January 2028 online, on the same rules. (GOV.UK, GOV.UK).
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Sources
All checked on 8 October 2026. Accurate as of October 2026.
- GOV.UK, Self Assessment tax returns: deadlines. https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/deadlines
- GOV.UK, Pay your Self Assessment tax bill. https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill
- GOV.UK, Pay your Self Assessment tax bill: through your tax code. https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill/through-your-tax-code
- GOV.UK, Find out if and when you need to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-and-when-you-need-to-use-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax
- GOV.UK, Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: send quarterly updates. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax/send-quarterly-updates
- GOV.UK, How to submit your VAT Return. https://www.gov.uk/submit-vat-return
- GOV.UK, Charge, reclaim and record VAT (Making Tax Digital for VAT status). https://www.gov.uk/charge-reclaim-record-vat
- GOV.UK, Company Tax Returns. https://www.gov.uk/company-tax-returns
- GOV.UK, Accounts and tax returns for private limited companies. https://www.gov.uk/prepare-file-annual-accounts-for-limited-company
- GOV.UK, Running a limited company: confirmation statement. https://www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company/confirmation-statement
- GOV.UK, Pay employers' PAYE. https://www.gov.uk/pay-paye-tax
- GOV.UK, What you must do as a CIS contractor: file your monthly returns. https://www.gov.uk/what-you-must-do-as-a-cis-contractor/file-your-monthly-returns
- GOV.UK, What you must do as a CIS contractor: pay deductions to HMRC. https://www.gov.uk/what-you-must-do-as-a-cis-contractor/pay-deductions-to-hmrc
- GOV.UK, PAYE forms P45, P60, P11D: P60. https://www.gov.uk/paye-forms-p45-p60-p11d/p60
- GOV.UK, Expenses and benefits for employers. https://www.gov.uk/employer-reporting-expenses-benefits
- GOV.UK, Pay Class 1A National Insurance. https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-1a-national-insurance
- GOV.UK, UK bank holidays. https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays
- GOV.UK, Pay your Corporation Tax bill. https://www.gov.uk/pay-corporation-tax