When it comes to personal financial matters, every year contains a number of key dates and deadlines. This year however there are a few more than normal as a result of changes that were announced in the Autumn Budget.
We’ve outlined some of these dates and explained what they are below.
January
31 January: Online tax return deadline
Tax is normally deducted automatically from wages and pensions but if you have other income or are self employed, then you also need to complete a self-assessment tax return to tell HMRC about this additional income. You can find out if you need to complete a self assessment return here.
If you have to complete a self-assessment return, then the deadline for submitting it to HMRC and paying any tax due for the tax year ending 5th April 2025 is the 31st January. Missing the deadline can result in paying additional interest and penalties unless you have a very good reason.
March
31 March: Household Support Fund and Winter Fuel Payment deadlines
The Household Support Fund offers funding to vulnerable families to help pay for energy and water bills, food and essential items. The current fund is ending on 31st March 2026. The fund is run by local councils who have different criteria is for who is eligible for support and you should check with your local council to find out what support is available before the deadline.
Separately the Winter Fuel Payment is paid automatically for most people if they are eligible but in some cases you will need to make a claim. The deadline for claiming for winter 2025/26 is 31st March. You can find out more on the government website.
April
1 April: Two-child benefit cap ends / Council tax and other bills increase / Minimum wage rise
The 1st April is a key date in the financial diary and we’ve picked out three changes that come into effect that may affect many of you.
Firstly, the two-child benefit cap is being axed. This means that parents who are eligible will be able to claim Universal Credit and Tax Credits for third, fourth and subsequent children.
The increase in council tax will vary depending on where you live and usually comes into effect 1st April. Amounts haven’t been announced yet but councils in England can raise the amount up to 5% without calling a referendum. Other bills expected to rise are water, energy, vehicle tax and the TV licence fee.
Finally 1st April sees an increase in the national minimum wages which will be going up:
- Over 21s from £12.21 to £12.71
- 18 - 20 from £10 to £10.85
- Under 18s from £7.55 to £8
- Apprentices from £7.55 to £8
5 April: End of the tax year and ISA deadline
One of the most important dates of the year when it comes to any ISAs and Junior ISAs you have. This is the deadline for you to use your 2025/26 contribution allowances as any unused allowance is lost. For 2025/26 the ISA allowance is £20,000 and for Junior ISAs it is £9,000.
6 April: New tax year
ISA and Junior ISA contribution allowances reset at the start of the new tax year. For 2026/27 the allowances remain at £9,000 for Junior ISAs and £20,000 for ISAs but in the following tax year rules around ISA allowances are changing. You can find out more about the changes here.
July
31 July: Payment on account deadline
If you file a self assessment tax return you may be asked to pay “payments on account”. This is essentially prepaying tax for the following tax year and is calculated based on your income in the previous tax year. Payments on account are due on the 31st January and 31st July so today is the deadline for paying your second payment on account.
August
1 August: University tuition fees increase takes effect
University tuition fees and maintenance loans in England will both rise in line with inflation for the 2026/27 academic year. Maximum tuition fees for undergraduate students starting or continuing full-time and part-time courses at approved (fee cap) providers in the 2026 to 2027 academic year will be increased by 2.71%. The government has published more information into tuition fees here and maintenance loans here.
September
1 September: Free school meals eligibility expanded
From the start of the 2026/27 school year, all children from households that receive Universal Credit will be entitled to a free school meal. The change means that all households receiving Universal Credit, above the current £7,400 income cap, will qualify for this support.
October
5 October: Deadline to register for self-assessment
The final one we’ve highlighted for the year is the deadline to register for self assessment, which is the 5th October. This is for those that have never filed a self assessment before and need to for the first time or for those that have previously stopped filing and need to restart.