What are the key tax due dates for my business?

New company owner asks:

I’ve just set up my company. I’m VAT registered. When do I have to pay tax?

Acumenica answers:

There are four main taxes to consider, depending on your circumstances. Each has its own timetable, and your personal tax bill is separate from the company’s taxes.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

VAT returns are normally submitted quarterly. Your first return may cover a different period, so check your actual dates in your HMRC VAT account.

The usual deadline for submitting your return and paying is one calendar month and seven days after the VAT period ends.

For example, if your quarters end in March, June, September and December:

Different arrangements apply under some VAT schemes. You must normally submit a return even if there is nothing to pay or reclaim.

If you have a valid VAT Direct Debit in place and submit your return on time, HMRC normally collects payment three working days after the payment deadline. There is no fixed collection date of the 11th.

Set up the Direct Debit at least three working days before submitting your return. If you pay another way, allow enough time for payment to reach HMRC by the deadline.

Corporation Tax

For most small companies, Corporation Tax is payable nine months and one day after the end of the Corporation Tax accounting period.

For example, tax for an accounting period ending 31 December 2026 would normally be payable by 1 October 2027. Larger companies can have earlier instalment deadlines.

Your first year needs particular attention. A Corporation Tax accounting period cannot exceed 12 months. If your first accounts cover longer than this, you may need two Company Tax Returns and two separate tax payments.

The deadline for filing your Company Tax Return is normally 12 months after the accounting period ends. That means the tax payment is usually due before the return’s filing deadline.

PAYE and National Insurance

If you run payroll and amounts are due, the company normally pays its PAYE and National Insurance bill monthly.

A tax month runs from the 6th of one month to the 5th of the next. The normal electronic payment deadline is the 22nd of the month in which that tax month ends.

For example, amounts due for the tax month 6 April to 5 May are normally payable by 22 May. Postal cheque payments must reach HMRC by the 19th.

If your average monthly PAYE bill is below £1,500, you may be able to pay quarterly instead. Confirm the arrangement with HMRC. Payroll reporting deadlines still apply separately.

Personal Income Tax

Tax on your salary is normally deducted through payroll. Dividends may create an additional personal tax bill, depending on your income and available allowances.

Where tax is payable through Self Assessment, the balancing payment is normally due on 31 January following the end of the tax year.

You may also need to make payments on account towards the following year. These are normally two instalments, each equal to half the previous year’s relevant tax bill, due on 31 January and 31 July.

They are generally not required if:

• Your previous year’s relevant tax bill was less than £1,000; or

• More than 80% of your tax was collected outside Self Assessment, such as through PAYE.

For example, assume your first relevant Self Assessment bill for 2026/27 is £2,000, with no payments already made and payments on account required:

That first January payment can therefore be 150% of the first year’s bill. The extra amount is an advance payment, rather than an additional tax charge.

Plan for the bills before they arrive

The money in your company’s bank account is not necessarily available to spend. Setting aside tax regularly and keeping a clear schedule of deadlines makes the first year much easier to manage.

The Acumenica team can help you understand what is due, when it needs to be paid and how much to set aside. To arrange a no-obligation, confidential chat, complete the form on our Contact Us page or call 03330 166559.

Updated 29 October 2026.