For most businesses, landlords and property investors, strong financial control starts with good diary management. While tax and reporting obligations are familiar territory, missed deadlines still carry unnecessary cost, disruption and risk. Looking ahead to 2026, there are several key dates that business owners, finance teams and directors should have firmly on their radar.

This overview outlines the year's main milestones and explains why early planning remains commercially sensible.

January 2026: self-assessment pressure point

31 January 2026 is one of the most significant dates in the tax calendar. It marks the deadline for the Self-Assessment balancing payment for the 2024/25 tax year, along with the first payment on account for 2025/26 for those within Self-Assessment. Hopefully, by now you've submitted your tax return; if not, we may be able to help.

July 2026: payment on account

Don’t forget to plan for the second instalment of your tax return, which is due on 31 July 2026.

Making Tax Digital – if turnover is above £50,000 from property or self-employment

• 6 April 2026 – start keeping records using MTD for Income Tax software
• 7 August 2026 and 7 November 2026 - deadlines to send quarterly updates
• 31 January 2027 – Submit self-assessment tax return for 2025/26

April to July 2026: payroll and employment reporting

The end of the tax year on 5 April 2026 triggers a sequence of payroll and benefits-related obligations.

• 19 April 2026: final Full Payment Submission or Employer Payment Summary for the 2025/26 tax year
• 31 May 2026: deadline to issue P60S to employees
• 6 July 2026: deadline to file P11D and P11D(b) returns and provide copies to employees
• 22 July 2026: deadline to pay Class 1A National Insurance on benefits

These deadlines are particularly relevant for growing businesses where payroll complexity increases year on year. Errors or delays can quickly escalate into compliance issues with HMRC.

Monthly and quarterly obligations throughout the year

Alongside one-off deadlines, 2026 will follow the familiar rhythm of recurring submissions and payments.

For PAYE, National Insurance and CIS: 19th of each month for postal payments and 22nd of each month for electronic payments.

For VAT-registered businesses on standard quarterly cycles, typical deadlines in 2026 include 7 February, 7 May, 7 August, and 7 November.

Businesses using non-standard VAT quarters should apply the general rule of filing and paying around one month and seven days after the quarter end.

Corporation tax and company reporting deadlines

Corporation tax deadlines in 2026 depend entirely on a company’s accounting period rather than the calendar year.

As a guide:

• Corporation tax is due nine months and one day after the accounting period end
• Company tax returns are due twelve months after the period end
• Statutory accounts are usually due nine months after the accounting reference date for established companies

Confirmation statements must also be filed at least once every twelve months, within fourteen days of the date set for your business.

Planning ahead

From a commercial perspective, 2026 reinforces a familiar truth. Businesses that plan deadlines early, align accounting timetables with cash flow forecasting and review compliance calendars regularly operate with greater confidence and resilience.

Treating tax and reporting dates as fixed business milestones, rather than administrative afterthoughts, remains one of the simplest ways to reduce risk and support sustainable growth.

If you need any support with your accounting, tax or payroll to help you meet these deadlines, please do contact us by calling 01623 490 120 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.