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Introduction –UK tax dates
There are various UK tax year dates and UK financial year dates to consider as a UK contracting professional. Indeed, these are important dates to remember when you run your own UK business. What’s more, when we consider HMRC, contractor responsibilities include various filing tasks throughout the year. Basically, the dates in question are the filing dates for taxes and accounts for your company. Indeed, this will apply whether you run your own contractor limited company or are a sole trader. Furthermore, in each case, there are certain tax year (UK) dates which you need to be aware of. Further still, for a limited company contractor, the main filing dates are official Companies House filing deadlines. In addition, there is your contractor Corporation Tax deadline, as well as a date for filing a limited company tax return (UK).
If your business is VAT registered or indeed you run a PAYE scheme for your contracting business, you should be organised as there are additional filing requirements to meet in respect of this. In terms of routine company returns or annual filing requirements it is important that you do not miss a HMRC tax deadline otherwise your business may face interest or even penalties.
In this guide, we will look at the tax year calendar and the tax year end (UK). As part of this, we will consider UK tax return deadlines and Companies House filing dates for a UK business. We’ll also look at the UK tax year 2023/24 as well as Self Assessment deadlines for personal tax return filing as an individual.
Initial thoughts on UK tax year dates
What to think about first
Before we go into more detail, it is key to bear in mind that when you are a director who runs your own company, you must remember any important company filing dates. Indeed, in the UK, companies are required to meet the HMRC tax return deadline (UK) and Companies House filing dates. Basically, a UK company pays taxes, files official accounts, and files tax returns with the UK authorities. As a result, there are various UK tax year dates and deadlines to meet in each case for a business owner. However, if a limited company misses filing dates for taxes and accounts or Companies House filing deadlines it can face interest or penalties. Likewise, a self-employed person can face fines too if they are late filing their personal tax return. Consequently, it is important that the tax year dates (UK) and deadlines are always met in respect of UK personal and company tax filing.
Further initial thoughts
You may be setting up your own company for the first time or have been in business for a while. Indeed, if you have been in business for a while, you should ne aware of your various filing dates. However, if you are a new business owner, all of the relevant filing dates will be new to you and something for you to bear in mind for the future. Therefore, the details in this article can be a handy reference point, especially for new business owners. What’s more, many of the dates in here apply to sole traders, as well as limited company filing requirements.
Certainly, when you run a company, you must know the official filing deadlines with Companies House as well as the HMRC Corporation Tax deadline. In addition, you should be aware of the HMRC Corporation Tax payment deadline when you file a tax return (limited company).
Basically, the dates for Companies House accounts filing requirements, filing company documents, and paying company taxes come around once per year at different times. Therefore, it would be a good idea to make diary or calendar notes. As a result, you can keep track of these official dates.
As a contractor, some common questions and thoughts which arise in relation to taxes and the UK tax year are:
- What is the UK tax year?
- When does the tax year start UK?
- When does the UK tax year end?
- How long after year end are accounts due?
- What do I need to file with Companies House?
- How to file company accounts?
- When are company tax returns due?
- How to complete a tax return for contractors?
- When is corporation tax due (UK)?
- How do I pay tax as a contractor?
- When to file company tax return?
- How to keep track of taxes as a contractor.
- How do I go about filing taxes as a contractor?
In this guide, we will look at company filing requirements and the UK company tax year. What’s more. we’ll look at limited company returns and UK tax deadline dates.
Secondary thoughts
In many cases, when you have your accountant, they will look after you day to day. In addition, they will help you meet the deadlines. Basically, they will inform you of your ltd company tax return (UK) deadline and Companies House filing deadlines. What’s more they will inform you of any other filing deadlines. Moreover, they will inform you how much tax you owe and the date you need to pay this. Further, they will also notify you what filing dates you need to make in terms of official documents, such as company accounts.
However, it is sensible to keep track of your main filing dates yourself. As a result, you can follow up with your accountant if the need arises. Basically. You could list the important dates in your diary, be that a digital diary or paper one. In addition, you could set reminders in a digital diary so that it prompts when important dates are coming up.
Preliminary considerations
Set up a limited company and register for Corporation Tax
When you set up your own company, your business is automatically registered for Corporation Tax as part of the registration process. Therefore, at this point, HMRC will give you login details for your Business Tax account. Certainly, it is essential to be aware that once you have set this up, you will also have the option in due course to register with HMRC for other taxes. Therefore, in the main, this will include VAT and PAYE/NIC. In addition, it could include other taxes too, such as CIS.
As a UK contractor, it is good idea to have your own Business Tax account with HMRC. As a result, you will have an overview of your business taxes. Furthermore, you can keep track of the amounts are due. In addition, you can also track any due dates for your company taxes. To sum up, your Business Tax account will be up to date at all times. What’s more when you or your accountant files a company return such as your contractor Corporation Tax or VAT, such a return and the amount due will then show on your account.
From a personal perspective, it Is also recommended to register for a personal tax account with HMRC. Once you have access, you can view your personal tax liabilities and your current tax code, along with information about your personal tax affairs.
Tax year-end of tax year (UK)
In the UK, there is are two types of tax years which run from certain dates in the calendar year. Basically, in the United Kingdom, the tax year end date is the last date in the tax year. In addition, the date after this is the first day of the tax year. Therefore, when there are any changes to UK tax allowances or tax rates this is the date when they will usually take effect. Therefore, the UK tax year end date is:
- 5 April for the UK personal tax year end. A brand-new tax year starts on 6 April. Therefore, the date that UK personal tax returns are made up to each year is 5 April. Basically, if you are required to file a personal tax return, this falls under the UK Self Assessment system. Furthermore, when you complete a UK personal tax return it will include your income from 6 April to 5 April. Therefore, for 2022/23, it will cover your income received from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023. Likewise, for 2023/24 it will cover your income from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024. What’s more, when there are changes by the government to personal tax rules, they will come in from the start of a new tax year.
- 31 March for the company tax year, also known as the Corporation Tax year. Therefore, this is the date that any changes in company tax rates will take effect. As a result, if the government changes the Corporation Tax rate, it will take effect on 1 April.
Financial year-end
Besides the tax year, there is also your financial year. The last day of this is usually the last day of a calendar month and this is known as your company year-end or accounting reference date. Therefore, this is the date of the end of year accounts and the date accounts are made up to for your company each year.
You can set the company year-end yourself when you set your company up. However, you can also change it at a future point in time. What’s more, if you do not choose a company year-end when your company is set up, it will automatically default to the end of the calendar month in which your company was incorporated. Certainly, this is how a company year end is chosen. Therefore, you should be this in mind for your own company.
If your company was incorporated on 20 July 2023 and you did not set your year-end, it would automatically default to 31 July 2024. As a result, you would file your accounts up to 31 July each year in future. However, you could decide to change the company year-end at a future date.
UK tax year dates -being organised from the outset
It is good if you like to be organised, in terms of filing requirements for your company. What’s more, when this is the case, you could make a note all the relevant UK tax year dates that your company needs to meet. Indeed, your accountant will help ensure you are on time. However, there is nothing wrong with knowing the various due dates yourself because you can then keep a track of these.
Any official mail for the company from Companies House or HMRC will be posted to the registered office. As a result, such mail could include reminder letters from the authorities. Indeed, such mail could be about filing deadlines or tax enquiry-type letters.
Please read our article that covers tax tips for limited company contractors. Certainly, this includes all of our latest handy tips and advice. What’s more, you should know these when you have your own business because it is good to be organised. Furthermore, this article includes our latest guidance for the best tax planning ideas.
The UK tax year dates in respect of filing dates for contractor taxes and accounts
First thoughts
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Therefore, the 2022/23 tax year, which started on 6 April 2022, will run to 5 April 2023. Likewise, for 2023/24, the tax year that starts on 6 April 2023 will run to 5 April 2024.
When you are in business, you could be a sole trader or a director of a limited company. Therefore, you may have an annual personal tax requirement. As a result, you will more than likely have to complete an Income Tax Return (UK Self Assessment) each year.
When you have our own business, you have to choose a year-end, either as a sole trader or a limited company. However, this does not need to be the same as the personal tax year. Basically, it is much simpler to have your year-end on 5 April in a personal tax context. What’s more, the majority of self-employed people will choose 31 March or 5 April as their business year-end.
Second thoughts
It is important to remember that your company should save its tax liabilities as it goes along in the company bank account. Indeed, when you do this as a UK contractor, you should aim to keep safe the funds for your contractor taxes. However, it is better to save these in a company savings account. Certainly, this is a good idea so that they are separate from the regular funds of your business.
As mentioned earlier, there are various HMRC dates and Companies House filing deadlines. What’s more, you should bear these in mind in respect of filing your company’s accounts and any other filing requirements. In addition, these are all part of your director’s duties when you run your own company. However, there are also dates to meet for your personal tax filing, which is your responsibility as an individual. To sum up, it is good to be aware of any filing dates during each calendar year.
Making Tax Digital (MTD)
MTD is a fairly new UK government initiative. What’s more, the move to MTD in the UK is now well underway. Basically, MTD is all about reporting tax digitally to the government. Indeed, this is now in place for all VAT-registered businesses including UK contractors. What’s more, specialised online account software is used to do this. Therefore, at present a business can use this type of software to file VAT returns and PAYE returns.
As mentioned, UK contractors with their own company now file their VAT returns under MTD. Basically, they will use online software to do this. What’s more such software makes company record keeping much easier than using previous ways to keep business records.
In addition, there are current plans to extend this to landlords and self-employed businesses (ITSA). This will now happen from 6 April 2026 for those with income over £50,000 mandated to join first, a change from the original £10,000 limit. In addition. for those with income over £30,000, this will now be mandated from April 2027. What’s more, the scope also has plans to extend this to company tax returns in the future too. This was originally planned for April 2026; however, it now looks even further away.
Filing company accounts and limited company tax return online
A company will file its accounts with Companies House online via specialist software. In addition, it will also file corporation tax online and as part of the same process, go ahead with filing company accounts online. Again, specialist software is required to perform this process. It is also possible to use Companies House and HMRC online filing although it is more efficient to use specialist software. Contractors and small business owners will usually let their accountants look after these annual tasks.
Dates to remember for UK contractors and small business owners
Tax year (UK) dates -important key dates
The various key dates for a UK limited company will differ depending on when the year end is. Indeed, your business year end could be set at any date of the calendar year. However, most UK businesses will choose a date at the end of a calendar month as their business year end. Therefore, the key dates to bear in mind for your company year-end filing tasks are as follows:
The date by which you need to file accounts with Companies House. | When you are submitting accounts to Companies House, the due date is within 9 months after your company year-end. |
The date which you need to file a company tax return and accounts with HMRC. This is also the date by which you will be filing company accounts with HMRC. | When you are submitting accounts to HMRC, the due date is within 12 months after your company year-end. |
The due date for your Corporation Tax payment to HMRC. | When you are paying CT, the due date is 9 months and 1 day after your company year-end. |
UK tax year date -filing dates with the UK authorities
Besides the main filing and tax deadlines (UK) shown above, there are also various other dates for a UK business, in terms of filing with the authorities. Indeed, all of such UK tax deadlines and filings are with either Companies House or HMRC. Basically, a business files accounts with Companies House. Likewise, it will file various tax returns and pay taxes in relation to these to HMRC. Therefore, the key tax return deadlines and dates for your business to bear in mind are as follows:
Action | Deadlines for filing and paying any tax you owe. |
Companies House accounts filing dates | |
File first accounts with Companies House (shortened version of the complete reports) | The Companies House accounts filing deadline is 21 months after the date you incorporated with Companies House or nine months after your year-end, whichever is the earlier. |
File Annual accounts with Companies House (shortened version of the complete reports) | The usual Companies House filing deadline is nine months after your company’s financial year ends. |
File a Confirmation Statement with Companies House | 14 days after the date that you make your statement up to. |
HMRC filing deadlines and payment date(s) | |
File tax returns for limited company and file accounts (HMRC). Basically, this is your company tax return due date and when you will file a UK Corporation Tax Return and file company accounts (HMRC) | The Corporation Tax deadline is 12 months after your accounting period for CT ends. Therefore, the limited company tax return deadline is the date by which you need to file the tax return (limited company) and HMRC year-end accounts. However, accounting periods for CT cannot be longer than twelve months. As a result, if your HMRC company accounts cover a period longer than twelve months (this could be the case for your first accounting period if they cover a period of longer than twelve months depending on when you start trading and set your year-end), there will be two returns to complete. In addition, there will be two CT deadlines and two Corporation Tax (UK) payment dates. To sum up, the first Corporation Tax filing deadline will be for the first twelve months of trade, and the second one will be for the remaining period up to the company year-end. |
Corporation Tax due date or tell HMRC that your company does not owe any tax | You must pay the CT within nine months and one day after your ‘accounting period’ for CT ends. As mentioned above, if your accounts span longer than twelve months there will be two Corporation Tax due dates which will end nine months and one day after the end of each CT period. |
Besides the main filing dates with HMRC and Companies House for the accounts, company tax return and Confirmation Statement there are also other filing dates to bear in mind. Indeed, this will cover VAT, PAYE and other PAYE issues such as the P11D:
Routine returns for a business | Deadlines for filing and paying any tax you owe. |
HMRC VAT return deadlines -filing the VAT return and the date HMRC need to receive the VAT payment by | One month and seven days after your VAT period end if you pay by internet banking. Furthermore, when you pay the VAT by direct debit, this will go through around three days later. |
PAYE filing deadline for filing PAYE/NIC returns and making payments | You need to pay the tax and National Insurance within 14 days after the end of the PAYE period. |
File P11D forms to HMRC online | 06-Jul |
Give employee copy of the P11D form | 06-Jul |
File P11D(b) form to HMRC online | 06-Jul |
Pay Class 1A NI on benefits | 19 July (by cheque) or 22 July (by other payment methods). |
Similarly, there are also dates for your personal tax (small business owner or contractor Self Assessment). Therefore, the key dates that you bear in mind for your contractor tax return (personal tax) are:
Self Assessment dates | Deadlines for filing and paying any tax you owe. |
Registering under Self Assessment | 5 October following the end of the tax year. |
Filing a paper Income Tax return | 31 October following the end of the tax year. |
Filing an Income Tax Return online | The UK tax filing deadline for your Self Assessment tax return is 31 January following the end of the tax year. Therefore, for 2022/23, the deadline and tax return due date (UK) is 31 January 2024. |
Making the first payment on account | 31 January following the end of the tax year. |
Self Assessment payments on account
When you are registered for Self Assessment, you may need to make payments on account. Indeed, most contractors who take dividends from their company have to make payments on account (POA). Basically, POA are made for personal tax (Self Assessment), as shown above. Therefore, POA will be due to HMRC unless:
- Your last Self Assessment tax bill was less than £1,000.
- You have already paid over 80% of all the tax due via PAYE on their salary.
This is an area that often causes confusion for UK limited company contractors. In addition, it is not straightforward to follow for most directors of limited companies. Therefore, if you want more information about payments on account, please take the time to discuss these with your accountant. Certainly, they will be able to explain how these payments work. In addition, they will be able to tell you whether you need to make such payments to HMRC. Furthermore, they will also be able to check if your can reduce your payments on account.
Example of UK tax year dates 2023/24 for a new company
Tom started up as a contractor and his company was set up on 7 April 2023. As a result, he started trading on 10 April 2023. Therefore, his first set of accounts will be made up to 30 April 2024. In addition, his company registered for VAT. Furthermore, his company’s VAT quarters end on 30 June, 30 September, 31 December, and 31 March.
Action | The tax year (UK) dates for Tom to remember |
Companies House accounts filing dates | |
File first accounts with Companies House | The accounts filing deadline (UK) and date by which he will need to file the accounts for the period ended 30 April 2024 is 7 January 2025. |
File annual accounts with Companies House | The usual year end accounts deadline with Companies House will be nine months after the year-end. Therefore, for year ended 30 April 2025 the due date will be 31 January 2026.. |
File Confirmation Statement with Companies House | |
The company was incorporated on 7 April 2023. | |
Therefore, the statement is made up to 6 April 2024, and as a result, it is due for filing by 20 April 2024. | |
HMRC filing and payment date(s) | |
Corporation Tax due date or tell HMRC that your company does not owe any tax | He will need to pay the CT by 1 February 2025. |
File tax returns for limited company. This is when Tom will file a Corporation Tax Return and file company accounts (HMRC) | The Corporation Tax deadline (UK) and due date to file accounts with HMRC will be 30 April 2025. |
VAT returns -file the return and send payment to the VAT office | |
The June 2023 VAT return will need to be filed by 7 August 2023. In addition, the liability will need to be paid to HMRC by 7 August 2023 (10 August 2023 if his company is paying by direct debit). | |
PAYE/NIC payments | |
For the 5 July 2023 PAYE quarter (he files quarterly), the filing and payment need to be with HMRC by 19 July 2023. | |
Routine returns for Tom’s business | |
VAT returns -filing the return and payment to the VAT office | One month and seven days after your VAT period end if you pay by internet banking. Furthermore, when you pay the VAT by direct debit, this will go through around three days later. |
PAYE/NIC payments | You need to pay the tax and National Insurance within 14 days after the end of the PAYE period. |
File P11D forms to HMRC online | 06-Jul |
Give employee copy of the P11D form | 06-Jul |
File P11D(b) form to HMRC online | 06-Jul |
Pay Class 1A NI on benefits | 19 July (by cheque) or 22 July (by other payment methods). |
Penalties
Self Assessment fines for late filing
When you miss the deadline for tax return (UK), there are various fines in respect of filing and paying pay your SA tax late. What’s more, these increase the later you are filing your tax return. Therefore, the following will apply when you are late:
Late Filing | Late Payment | Penalty |
Miss the filing deadline of 31 January | Automatic £100. | |
Miss the next filing date of 28 February to file your return and pay any tax due | 30 days late | 5% of the tax due. |
Three months late (30 April) | Daily penalty of £10 per day for up to 90 days (maximum £900). | |
Six months late (31 July) | 5% of the tax due or £300, if greater. | |
Six months late | 5% of any tax outstanding at that date. | |
12 months late (31 January the following year) | 5% of any tax due or £300 if greater, unless the taxpayer is held to be deliberately withholding information that would enable HMRC to assess the tax due. | |
12 months late | Based on behaviour: | |
Deliberate and concealed withholding 100% of the tax due, or £300 if greater. | ||
Deliberate but not concealed 70% of the tax due, or £300 if greater. | ||
Reductions apply for prompted and unprompted disclosures and telling, giving and helping. |
Companies House fines for late filing of accounts
There are fines if your company misses the deadline when filing accounts with Companies House. Further to this, this due date is in respect of your company accounts filing. What’s more, the fines increase the later you are with filing accounts at Companies House. Therefore, the following fines will apply if your company is late:
Up to 1 month | £150 |
1 to 3 months | £375 |
3 to 6 months | £750 |
More than six months | £1,500 |
Furthermore, the penalty will double if you filed late the previous year. |
It is best practice to make sure your accounts are filed on time with Companies House. As a result, your company will not incur any unnecessary fines. What’s more, you will avoid the risk of your company being struck off which can happen if you are late filing.
HMRC fines for late filing of accounts and company tax return
There are various fines in place if you are late when you pay and file Corporation Tax (UK). Therefore, it is key that these are paid and filed on time each year. Indeed, the fines increase the later you are at filing the documents with HMRC after the Corporation Tax return due date. Therefore, the fines that apply when you miss the Corporation Tax deadline in respect of filing a CT return and filing accounts with HMRC are:
What must a company director do? | Deadline |
Pay the Corporation Tax or advise HMRC that the company does not owe any tax | Nine months and one day after your ‘accounting period’ for which the Corporation Tax period ends. |
File a HMRC Company Tax Return -Corporation tax return deadline | The UK tax return deadline is 12 months after your `accounting period’ for which the Corporation Tax period ends. |
Time after your Corporation Tax deadline | The penalty |
1 day | £100 |
3 Months | Another £100 |
6 Months | HMRC will estimate your CT bill and add a penalty of 10% of the unpaid tax. |
12 months | HMRC will add another 10% of any unpaid tax. |
It could be the case that your HMRC company tax return is late three times in a row. Indeed, when this is the case, the £100 penalties will be increased to £500 each. However, once again, it is best practice to make sure your company tax return is filed on a time. As a result, you will not incur unnecessary fines.
If your HMRC company tax return is six months late, HMRC will write and tell you how much Corporation Tax they think that your company must pay. Basically, this is called a ‘tax determination’ and you cannot appeal against it. As a result, you must pay the Corporation Tax that is due and file your company tax return. What’s more, once you have done this, HMRC will re-calculate any interest and penalties which you need to pay.
Final thoughts
Finally, we hope this guide was a helpful overview of the UK tax year dates for companies and individuals. In addition, it also sets out the current Companies House filing deadlines and Corporation Tax deadline. What’s more, if you are a UK contractor and director of your own company, this is a handy for a reference point for your ltd tax filing and when your contractor taxes are due. In conclusion, we summarise the important tax year (UK) dates. Certainly, it includes the Companies House deadlines and when to file a limited company tax return. Furthermore, it also shows when you need to make payment of taxes and any official document filing dates.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to make some diary notes for the key UK tax year dates to remember for your company during the year. As a result, you will hopefully not miss any deadlines. Finally, some clients expect their contractor accountants to provide constant reminders regarding filing dates. However, this is not always practical. Indeed, a key point when you run your own company, is you should also know when the important dates are for your business.
Besides this guide on tax dates (UK), there are many other great guides on this website. Indeed, they cover all sorts of aspects of working as a UK contractor or small business. In addition, they include various tips and advice when you run your own business. What’s more they show you how to operate effectively and tax efficiently.
Link to Contractor Advice UK group on