You’ve signed the Companies House forms, ordered the business cards and told your mam you’re “official”. Grand. Now comes the bit no new owner can dodge – working out when your taxes are due. Miss a date and HMRC’s computer spits out penalties faster than you can say “howay”. Get the timing right and your cashflow stays sweet, your stress levels stay low, and you look like a pro from day one.
This guide breaks down when your taxes are due for the 2025/26 tax year, using plain English and a sprinkling of Geordie straight‑talk. Keep it handy, share it with your co‑founder and pop the dates in your calendar before you forget.
Companies House obligations – your first deadlines
Roughly 15,000 companies a week were incorporated during December 2024 (ONS, 2024) – you’re one of a busy crowd. Every one of us faces two early Companies House deadlines:
- Annual accounts – File within 21 months of incorporation for your first year, then 9 months after each accounting period ends.
- Confirmation statement – Submit within 14 days of each anniversary of incorporation.
If you blow past those dates, Companies House fines start at £150 and double if you’re late two years on the trot. Keep things simple: set reminders, delegate the prep and lean on our team when you need a hand.
Corporation tax – when your taxes are due
When your taxes are due for corporation tax depends on two deadlines:
- Pay the tax – 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends.
- File the CT600 return – 12 months after the period ends.
HMRC slapped businesses with over £100 million in corporation tax late‑payment interest in 2024. Don’t donate to that pot. Forecast the bill as you go, squirrel cash away monthly and set up a same‑day Faster Payment on deadline week.
Read the official rules in HMRC’s online CT guide and shout if you’d like us to review your numbers.
VAT returns – the clock starts fast
Registering for VAT? Your first return is due one month and seven days after the end of your first VAT quarter – the same cadence most businesses stick to thereafter. Digital records are mandatory under Making Tax Digital, so use compliant software and let it nudge you when your taxes are due.
A missed VAT deadline triggers a points‑based system; rack up points and the surcharges kick in. Avoid the faff: schedule the filing date, not the payment date, in your diary.
Payroll and PAYE – monthly rhythms
If you’re paying staff (including yourself), real‑time information (RTI) submissions must reach HMRC on or before pay‑day. Any PAYE and National Insurance due must clear HMRC’s bank by the 22nd of the following month if you pay electronically – or the 19th if you’re old‑school and send a cheque.
These monthly hits are often the first time new owners realise when their taxes are due can land much sooner than year‑end. Automate the lot: our payroll team runs RTI, issues digital payslips and tells you exactly how much to pay.
Director’s self assessment – don’t forget your own tax
Running a company doesn’t remove personal tax obligations. File your self‑assessment return by 31 January 2027 for income earned in 2025/26. Pay any balancing amount the same day, plus the first payment on account for 2026/27. The second payment on account falls on 31 July 2027.
HMRC confirmed 1.1 million people missed the 31 January 2025 deadline for their 2023/24 return (HMRC, 2025). The £100 penalty lands instantly, with £10‑a‑day fines after three months. Pop those self‑assessment dates next to every other note on when your taxes are due.
Six penalties you can dodge right now
- Plan your year‑end – A 31 March or 5 April year‑end lines up your corporation tax payment with your personal tax timetable, making when your taxes are due easier to remember.
- Use accounting software – Cloud platforms surface deadlines on the dashboard, giving you a daily heads‑up.
- Keep cash aside – Ring‑fence roughly 19% of profits for corporation tax if you qualify for the small‑profits rate; 25% if not.
- File early – HMRC lets you file a CT600 up to 12 months ahead. Fire it in as soon as the year closes.
- Automate payroll – RTI reminders, FPS files and email payslips remove human error.
- Work with pros – We chase the dates so you don’t have to. Simple as that.
How we can help – local know‑how, regional ambition
Based here in County Durham, we’re growing fast because owners like you want clear answers on when your taxes are due. We set up filing schedules, run real‑time tax projections and fight penalties before they appear on your account.
Want to scale? Our advisory crew rolls tax planning, funding support and strategy sessions into one package – and everything starts with a no‑obligation chat at For The Trade.
The full-time team talk
Knowing when your taxes are due is half the battle; acting on the dates wins the war. Keep a keen eye on the calendar, set automated reminders and track your cashflow so each deadline becomes routine rather than rushed. Penalties nibble away at profit margins, but they’re entirely avoidable when you stay organised and get the right advice.
We believe in helping businesses thrive, not just survive their first year. That means forecasting tax bills alongside turnover targets, planning dividend strategies months ahead and making tax‑efficient investment decisions as you grow. Our cloud software links direct to HMRC and Companies House, giving you live feedback on deadlines and liabilities so you can steer with confidence.
If a no‑nonsense partner who tells you exactly when your taxes are due sounds handy, let’s talk. Pick up the phone, book a video call or pop into the Consett office for a cuppa – we’ll map out your dates, benchmark your performance and keep you onside with every authority while you concentrate on scaling. Your first consultation costs nothing and could save you a fortune.