Keeping track of tax filing and payment deadlines can be challenging, particularly for employers and individuals who need to manage several different tax return and payment cycles throughout the year.
To assist, HMRC have launched a new tool to identify tax filing and payment deadlines, with the facility to add diary entries to your digital calendar. No HMRC sign-in details are needed to access the service, or to export the results.
The tool currently covers tax filing and payment deadlines for PAYE, VAT, Self-Assessment, and the Construction Industry Scheme for contractors. Its output is tailored based how the user files their tax returns, and whether they choose to pay online or by post.
Resulting calendar entries offered by the tool can be downloaded to a range of digital calendars, including Microsoft Outlook, Google, Samsung and Apple, or can be printed as an ‘at a glance’ list of deadlines. They can be added to your electronic diary in bulk or saved individually and contain handy links to relevant GOV.UK guidance (such as how employers can pay their Class 1A NIC liability).
One word of warning – the diary entries do not import into your chosen calendar with reminders set automatically. Whilst the tool informs users that the payment deadlines provided are the date by which funds must reach HMRC, it’s important to remember to allow time ahead of the diary entry for payment to be made. It may be useful to set a reminder manually to allow sufficient time for payment to clear depending on your chosen payment method.
Finally, the tool will only provide deadlines for the current filing cycle. For instance, annual PAYE deadlines produced by the tool currently cover the 2026/27 tax year, whilst diary entries for monthly PAYE deadlines (FPS and EPS submissions, and PAYE liability reminders for employers who pay monthly) will cover the coming 12 months only. Users who find the tool useful will therefore need to set a manual diary reminder to run the tool again in the future and import the calendar entries for the next compliance cycle.
For employers, this tool could provide a useful additional check for payroll and tax administration teams, particularly where businesses have multiple PAYE or other tax obligations to manage. Employees filing Self-Assessment tax returns may also benefit, helping them plan ahead and avoid a last-minute rush to file their tax return.
This article reflects the position at the date of publication. If you are reading this at a later date you are advised to check that that position has not changed in the time since.
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