{"id":20251,"date":"2022-08-15T12:02:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T11:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxfix.com\/en-uk\/?p=20251"},"modified":"2025-09-03T17:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T16:14:35","slug":"when-does-the-tax-year-end-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taxfix.com\/en-uk\/self-assessment-basics\/when-does-the-tax-year-end-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"When does the tax year end in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re one of the many self-employed workers, landlords, investors or anyone else due to file your first Self Assessment<\/a> tax return, you might be wondering: when does the tax year end in the UK?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good question, especially since the UK tax year doesn\u2019t follow a logical pattern and differs from most European countries – we just had to be different, didn\u2019t we?<\/em> \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to know the answer, keep reading! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When does the tax year end?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It ends in early spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep, you read correctly – spring<\/em> \ud83c\udf38 <\/p>\n\n\n<\/div> \n\n

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Key dates in the current <\/span>2025\/26 tax year \ud83d\udc47<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Deadline<\/b><\/td>\nDate<\/b><\/td>\nYear<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax year starts<\/span><\/td>\n6th April<\/span><\/td>\n2025<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax year ends<\/span><\/td>\n5th April<\/span><\/td>\n2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Register for self assessment<\/span><\/td>\n5th October<\/span><\/td>\n2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pay tax bill by PAYE salary<\/span><\/td>\n30th December<\/span><\/td>\n2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Self assessment deadline<\/span><\/td>\n31st January<\/span><\/td>\n2027<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div> \n\n
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If you\u2019re self-employed or have to file a tax return, you should calculate your income and expenses based on this period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why does the tax year end in April?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might have noticed that the tax year doesn\u2019t follow the usual calendar year pattern (i.e. January to December). Wanna know why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick history lesson<\/a>\u2026\ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in medieval times the calendar year was split into quarters that were each based around 4 key dates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n