UK tax year dates
2026/27
6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027
The current UK tax year ends on Monday 5 April 2027. The 2027/28 tax year starts on Tuesday 6 April 2027.
This page lists dates, not tax advice. For your own position, check with HMRC or an accountant.
Tax year dates
The UK tax year always runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. It is the same for Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scotland sets its own Income Tax rates and bands, but the year is the same.
| Tax year | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Sun 6 Apr 2025 | Sun 5 Apr 2026 |
| 2026/27 | Mon 6 Apr 2026 | Mon 5 Apr 2027 |
| 2027/28 | Tue 6 Apr 2027 | Wed 5 Apr 2028 |
| 2028/29 | Thu 6 Apr 2028 | Thu 5 Apr 2029 |
2026/27 has 365 days. 2027/28 has 366, because it contains 29 February 2028. Both the first and the last day of 2026/27 are Mondays. See them in the 2027 calendar, or count forward from any date with the date calculator.
Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital deadlines
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Mon 5 Oct 2026 | Tell HMRC you need to file a Self Assessment return for 2025/26, if you have not filed before |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Paper tax return for 2025/26 (by 11:59pm) |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Making Tax Digital quarterly update for 6 April to 5 October 2026 |
| Sun 31 Jan 2027 | Online tax return for 2025/26, payment of any tax owed, and first payment on account for 2026/27 (by 11:59pm) |
| Sun 7 Feb 2027 | Making Tax Digital quarterly update for 6 April 2026 to 5 January 2027 |
| Mon 5 Apr 2027 | Last day of the 2026/27 tax year |
| Fri 7 May 2027 | Making Tax Digital quarterly update for the full 2026/27 year |
| Sat 31 Jul 2027 | Second payment on account for 2026/27 |
Self Assessment dates are from GOV.UK’s deadlines page. Note that 31 January 2027 is a Sunday. Count down to any of them with days between dates.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Sole traders and landlords have to keep digital records and send quarterly updates through compatible software once their qualifying income (self-employment and property income before expenses) passes a threshold:
- From 6 April 2026: qualifying income over £50,000 in 2024/25.
- From 6 April 2027: qualifying income over £30,000 in 2025/26.
- From 6 April 2028: qualifying income over £20,000 in 2026/27.
The standard update periods are cumulative from 6 April, with updates due on 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. You still need to send a tax return by 31 January after the tax year ends. Check whether it applies to you on GOV.UK.
Why the tax year starts on 6 April
Until 1752 the English year began on Lady Day, 25 March, one of the quarter days when rents and taxes fell due. When Britain moved to the Gregorian calendar, 2 September 1752 was followed by 14 September, and the Treasury kept a full year of tax by ending its year 11 days later, on 5 April. The usual explanation for the final shift is that 1800 would have been a leap year under the old calendar but was not under the new one, so the start moved one more day, to 6 April. That account is widely repeated, but HMRC does not publish an official history of it.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026/27 tax year end?
The 2026/27 tax year ends on Monday 5 April 2027. The 2027/28 tax year starts the next day, Tuesday 6 April 2027.
When is the Self Assessment deadline?
For the 2025/26 tax year, paper returns are due by 31 October 2026 and online returns by 31 January 2027. Any tax owed must also be paid by 31 January 2027.
When do I need to register for Self Assessment?
Tell HMRC by 5 October after the end of the tax year you need to file for. For 2025/26, that is 5 October 2026.
Is the tax year the same in Scotland?
Yes. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April across the UK. Scotland sets different Income Tax rates and bands, but the dates are the same.
Why does the tax year start on 6 April?
The year used to start on Lady Day, 25 March. After 11 days were dropped from the calendar in 1752, the tax year end moved to 5 April. It is usually said to have moved one more day in 1800, giving the 6 April start.