The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April each year. Every year on 6 April, a new set of rates, thresholds, and allowances takes effect — and on 5 April the night before, dozens of tax-saving opportunities expire permanently. Understanding the tax year calendar is not just for accountants: knowing which actions to take before April 5th and which new rules apply from April 6th can save most households hundreds of pounds.
The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. This hub covers every key date, the most important changes from April 2026, what is coming in April 2027, the Self Assessment deadline calendar, and year-end planning actions.
Why Does the UK Tax Year Start on 6 April?
The oddly specific 6 April start date is a legacy of calendar reform. Before 1752, England used the Julian calendar, which ran the tax (and legal) year from Lady Day — 25 March. When Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, 11 days were dropped to realign with the rest of Europe. The Treasury, unwilling to lose 11 days of tax revenue, kept the year-end date the same in astronomical terms — which now fell on 4 April. A further one-day adjustment in 1800 shifted it to 5 April (year end) and 6 April (year start), where it has remained ever since.
The result is a tax year boundary that appears arbitrary but is now deeply embedded in UK law, payroll systems, pension rules, and benefit calculations.
Key Dates in the 2026/27 Tax Year
| Date | Deadline or event |
|---|---|
| 6 April 2026 | 2026/27 tax year begins — new rates, allowances, and NI thresholds apply |
| 31 May 2026 | Employers must issue P60s to all employees for 2025/26 |
| 6 July 2026 | P11D and P11D(b) deadline — employers report benefits in kind for 2025/26 |
| 31 July 2026 | Second Payment on Account for 2025/26 Self Assessment due |
| 5 October 2026 | Deadline to register for Self Assessment (first-time filers, 2025/26 return) |
| 31 October 2026 | Paper Self Assessment return deadline for 2025/26 |
| Oct/Nov 2026 | Autumn Statement 2026 — Chancellor sets out tax plans for 2027/28 |
| 31 January 2027 | Online Self Assessment return deadline for 2025/26 |
| 31 January 2027 | Tax payment due for 2025/26 + first Payment on Account for 2026/27 |
| 5 April 2027 | 2026/27 tax year ends — ISA, CGT, and dividend allowances expire |
| 6 April 2027 | 2027/28 tax year begins — pension IHT rules and pension access age change |
| 31 July 2027 | Second Payment on Account for 2026/27 due |
What Changed in April 2026
Several important changes took effect on 6 April 2026:
Employer National Insurance: The Employer NI rate increased to 15%, and the secondary threshold (the point at which employers start paying NI) dropped from £9,100 to £5,000. This affects all employers and has filtered through to hiring decisions and salary negotiations across the economy.
Employment Allowance: Increased to £10,500 (from £5,000) to partially offset the Employer NI rise for small businesses.
Personal Allowance and thresholds: Both frozen at 2021/22 levels — £12,570 personal allowance, £50,270 higher-rate threshold. The freeze continues until at least 2028. In practice, with average wages rising, more people are being pulled into higher tax bands each year — a process known as fiscal drag.
Capital Gains Tax: Following the Autumn Budget 2024, CGT rates on shares and assets (excluding residential property) aligned with property rates: 18% for basic-rate taxpayers, 24% for higher-rate taxpayers. The CGT annual exemption remains at £3,000.
Pension changes: The pension lifetime allowance remains abolished. Annual Allowance stays at £60,000 (or 100% of earnings, whichever is lower). Money Purchase Annual Allowance stays at £10,000.
Dividend allowance: Remains at £500.
What Is Changing in April 2027
April 2027 brings some of the most significant pension and financial planning changes in a generation:
Pensions and Inheritance Tax: From 6 April 2027, unspent pension pots will form part of the deceased’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. Currently, most defined contribution pensions pass to beneficiaries outside the estate — making them a highly effective IHT planning tool. This exemption ends from April 2027. Estates with large pension pots will need to restructure their drawdown strategy before then.
Minimum pension access age: The minimum age to access defined contribution pension savings rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028 (the implementation has been confirmed for 2028 after earlier uncertainty). Some protected pension ages may differ.
Personal Allowance freeze: The freeze on the Personal Allowance at £12,570 is scheduled to end in 2028, suggesting the 2027/28 threshold will begin to rise again — though the precise amount depends on Autumn Statement 2026 and Spring Budget 2027 decisions.
National Minimum Wage: Increases typically take effect each April — the Autumn Statement 2026 will set the 2027/28 rates.
Year-End Actions: What to Do Before 5 April
The days between late March and 5 April represent a genuine annual opportunity. Most allowances do not carry forward — they expire at midnight on 5 April.
Use-it-or-lose-it allowances:
| Allowance | 2026/27 limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | £20,000/person | Unused allowance is permanently lost |
| Capital Gains Tax exemption | £3,000 | Can crystallise gains or losses to reset cost basis |
| Dividend allowance | £500 | Unused allowance lost |
| Pension Annual Allowance | £60,000 (or 100% earnings) | Unused carry-forward from up to 3 previous years is possible — but the current year allowance must be used first |
| Marriage Allowance | Up to £1,260 transferred | Can be applied retrospectively for up to 4 years — does not expire |
| Pension contributions for non-earners | £3,600 gross (£2,880 net) | For children, non-earning spouses — claim 20% relief from HMRC |
Before 5 April, consider:
- Topping up your ISA to the £20,000 limit (you can hold cash in a stocks and shares ISA if you are not ready to invest)
- Maximising pension contributions to capture employer matching before the year ends
- Reviewing any unrealised capital gains — if they are within the £3,000 annual exemption, you can sell and rebuy to reset your cost basis (bed and ISA is a common strategy)
- Checking whether a Marriage Allowance transfer is worthwhile
- Making Gift Aid donations — Gift Aid extends the higher-rate relief into the tax year in which you make the donation
New Tax Year Actions: What to Do From 6 April
When 6 April arrives, a new set of allowances refreshes:
- Open or transfer your new ISA to start using the fresh £20,000 allowance
- Check your new tax code — HMRC issues updated codes in March/April and errors at year start can cost you for months if uncorrected
- Verify your pension contributions have updated correctly if you asked for a change
- Check your payslip in April to confirm the new NI and income tax deductions match what you expect based on your salary
Budget and Autumn Statement: What They Mean for Your Money
UK tax policy is set in two main annual events:
Spring Budget (March): Confirms the rates, allowances, and thresholds for the coming tax year starting in April. Most Budget decisions take effect from 6 April. The Spring Budget 2026 confirmed all 2026/27 rates.
Autumn Statement (October/November): Sets out the government’s fiscal plans and often announces changes for the following April. This is where pension policy, National Insurance thresholds, and spending decisions are typically revealed. The Autumn Statement 2026 will shape the 2027/28 tax year.
Changes can also be made in emergency Budgets at other times of year, though this is less common.
Guides in This Cluster
- New Tax Year April 2026 — What Changed — full breakdown of every change that took effect from 6 April 2026
- New Tax Year April 2027 — What’s Changing — pension IHT, access age, and other confirmed changes from 6 April 2027
- New Tax Year Checklist — Actions Before and After 6 April — the practical to-do list for both sides of the tax year boundary
- Tax Year Dates Guide — Every Important Deadline — the complete HMRC calendar for 2026/27
- Tax Year-End Checklist — Make the Most of Allowances — step-by-step guide to using allowances before 5 April
- Tax Year-End Guide 2026/27 — broader planning guide for the run-up to April
- Spring Budget 2026 — What It Means for Your Tax — full Budget summary and what changes in 2026/27
- Autumn Statement 2026 — What to Expect — preview of the Autumn Statement and its likely contents
Related Hubs
- Income Tax Hub — rates, allowances, and bands for 2026/27
- Self Assessment Hub — deadlines, filing, and HMRC dealings
- ISA Guide — using the annual £20,000 ISA allowance
- Inheritance Tax Hub — planning for the April 2027 pension IHT changes
- Pension Planning Hub — how the April 2027 changes affect drawdown strategy