Tax Deadlines

PayToolkit's tax deadlines articles: practical UK tax guidance, worked examples, and links to the right free calculator for each topic.

Missing an HMRC deadline is one of the most avoidable ways to lose money — a late Self Assessment return triggers an automatic £100 penalty even if you owe nothing, and it escalates from there. This section covers the dates that matter for the 2026/27 tax year: the 31 January online filing and balancing payment deadline, the 31 July second Payment on Account deadline, and the 5 October deadline to register if you're newly self-employed.

We also explain Payments on Account in plain English — why HMRC asks you to pay next year's tax in advance, and how to apply to reduce them if your income has dropped. For a live, personalised view of what's due and when, use the free Tax Dashboard, or see the full list of dates on our Self Assessment deadlines page.