What Is Included in the Tax Year Calendar?
This free printable calendar covers every important tax date for the 2026/27 UK tax year. Whether you are self-employed, a limited company director, a landlord, or an employee, knowing these dates helps you avoid costly penalties.
- Self Assessment deadlines — Registration, paper filing, online filing, and payment dates
- Payment on account dates — First and second POA deadlines with amounts
- PAYE key dates — Tax code changes, P60 issue date, P11D deadline
- VAT return deadlines — Quarterly and monthly VAT dates
- Corporation Tax — Filing and payment deadlines for limited companies
- NIC deadlines — Class 2 and Class 4 payment dates
- Tax year milestones — Start/end of tax year, new rate effective dates
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 2026 | 2026/27 tax year begins | Everyone |
| 5 Oct 2026 | Self Assessment registration deadline (newly self-employed) | Sole traders |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Paper Self Assessment deadline (2025/26) | Paper filers |
| 31 Jan 2027 | Online Self Assessment deadline (2025/26) | All SA taxpayers |
| 31 Jan 2027 | First payment on account (2026/27) | POA taxpayers |
| 5 Apr 2027 | 2026/27 tax year ends | Everyone |
| 31 May 2027 | P60 must be issued to employees | Employers |
| 6 Jul 2027 | P11D and P11D(b) deadline | Employers |
| 31 Jul 2027 | Second payment on account (2026/27) | POA taxpayers |
| 5 Oct 2027 | SA registration deadline (new 2026/27) | Newly self-employed |
| 31 Oct 2027 | Paper SA deadline for 2026/27 | Paper filers |
| 31 Jan 2028 | Online SA deadline for 2026/27 | All SA taxpayers |
Late Filing and Payment Penalties
Self Assessment Late Filing
| How Late | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1 day late | £100 fixed penalty |
| 3 months late | £10 per day (max £900) |
| 6 months late | 5% of tax due or £300 (whichever is greater) |
| 12 months late | Additional 5% or £300 |
Late Payment
| How Late | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 30 days late | 5% of unpaid tax |
| 6 months late | Additional 5% |
| 12 months late | Additional 5% |
Interest is charged on all late payments from the due date until payment is received. The rate is currently Bank of England base rate plus 2.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026/27 UK tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. The tax year always starts on 6 April and ends on 5 April the following year. This dates back to the switch from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1752.
For the 2026/27 tax year, the Self Assessment paper return deadline is 31 October 2027, and the online filing deadline is 31 January 2028. The payment deadline for any tax owed is also 31 January 2028. If you make payments on account, the second payment is due 31 July 2028.
For the 2026/27 tax year, the first payment on account is due 31 January 2028, and the second payment on account is due 31 July 2028. Payments on account are advance payments towards your next tax bill, calculated as half of your previous year's tax liability. If your total tax bill is under £1,000 or more than 80% of your tax is paid through PAYE, you do not need to make payments on account.
VAT return deadlines depend on your VAT accounting scheme. For quarterly VAT returns, the deadline is one month and seven days after the end of your VAT period. For example, if your VAT quarter ends 30 June 2026, your return and payment are due by 7 August 2026. If you use the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme, you make advance payments throughout the year and submit one annual return.
Missing a tax deadline results in penalties from HMRC. For Self Assessment, filing late incurs an initial £100 penalty, rising to £10 per day after 3 months, 5% of tax due after 6 months, and another 5% after 12 months. Late payment attracts interest plus a 5% surcharge at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months. VAT late filing triggers a points-based penalty system. The best way to avoid penalties is to use our free tax calendar to track all deadlines.
Yes, the 2026/27 Tax Year Calendar is completely free to download as a PDF. No email signup, no registration, and no payment required. You can print it, save it to your device, or share it with colleagues. The calendar includes all key HMRC dates for Self Assessment, PAYE, VAT, Corporation Tax, NICs and payment on account.
Sources & Methodology
- Dates sourced from GOV.UK Self Assessment Deadlines
- VAT deadlines from GOV.UK VAT Returns
- Corporation Tax from GOV.UK Corporation Tax
- PAYE dates from GOV.UK PAYE for Employers
- Penalty rates from GOV.UK Tax Return Penalties
- Calendar accurate as of May 2026. Always verify dates on GOV.UK before relying on them for filing.