Key Dates For The 2023/24 Tax Year

The 2023/24 tax year is upon us. For those who have earnings outside of PAYE, this means maintaining business as usual in the face of truly unprecedented economic uncertainty.

However, it’s easier said than done when you’re faced with ever-changing tax legislation and HMRC penalties should you submit your Self Assessment tax return incorrectly. It’s for this reason that mapping out the certain tax dates ahead of April 2023 is essential if you intend on staying on the right side of the taxman.

The key dates in the 2023/24 UK tax year include the 6th April 2023 – the start of the tax year – and payment, registration and submission deadlines on 31st July, 5th October, and 31st October and 31st January. Read on to discover more about each of them, as well as what qualifies for Income Tax.

6TH APRIL 2023: START OF THE NEW TAX YEAR

April 2023 marks the start of a new financial year. Tax-free Personal Allowances changes normally come into effect on the 6th April each year. The personal allowance is £12,570 for the 23/24 tax year.

You may also receive your new tax code for the year. The numbers within your tax code refer to the amount of tax-free income you’re entitled to that year. This means that they can change annually, making it essential that you check they’re correct upon receiving them. Otherwise, you run the risk of paying more than you need to or facing an avoidable bill.

This is also a good opportunity to arrange your paperwork for your next Self Assessment tax return. While it isn’t due until January 2024, having the documentation and receipts ready will allow you to prepare and submit your tax return early, avoiding the pressure of the last minute panic and the uncertainty of what tax you will need to pay.

31ST JULY 2023: PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT DEADLINE FOR 22/23 TAX YEAR –

Speaking of tax to pay, July is when many individuals make their second payment on account.
Payments on account are advance payments towards your next tax bill. They’re calculated based on your tax bill from the previous year. The reason for the two payments is to soften the blow for those who would otherwise have to pay one significant sum in January.

You can currently make this payment via postal cheque, the HMRC online portal or by BACS from your online banking.

5TH OCTOBER 2023: DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR SELF ASSESSMENT

The 5th October marks the date you need to register for Self Assessment. There are three ways to do this depending on whether you are:

• Self-employed (first time submitting)
• Self-employed (previously submitted)
• Not self-employed

If you’re now self-employed and you’ve never submitted a Self Assessment before, you’ll first need to register. Upon receiving your registration, HMRC will send you a letter with your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference number on, which will allow you to set up your account for the Self Assessment online service.

Once you’ve filed, HMRC will be able to determine your Income Tax rate and National Insurance due.

For those that are self-employed and have previously submitted a Self Assessment tax return, you will need to fill out a CWF1 form.

For those who are not self-employed and have earnings outside of PAYE, the form you need to complete is your SA1 form, which identifies that you have income that needs to be taxed. This extends to any of the following sources of income:

• Income from employment
• Income from pensions
• Interests from savings
• Rental income
• Employment benefits
• Income from a trust

31ST OCTOBER 2023: PAPER SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN DEADLINE

While perhaps an outdated form of submission, even today, a significant number of UK taxpayers still file their Self Assessment tax returns via paper and postage.

The deadline for this method, however, is three months earlier than online. This means that, should you miss the deadline to submit via paper, you have a second chance in the form of filing digitally.

It’s also worth noting that physical submissions are set to be gradually phased out, so it pays to get to grips with digital sooner rather than later.

31ST JANUARY 2024: DIGITAL SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN DEADLINE, AND DEADLINE TO PAY THE TAX YOU OWE

Finally, the last deadline of the year marks the point when the majority of UK taxpayers submit their Self Assessment tax return online.

Filing as late as the 31st January puts you at the mercy of exhausted HMRC support teams and beleaguered accountants if you rely on them. While filing as soon as after the end of the tax year may feel unnecessary, it allows you to plan ahead for your tax bill and steer clear of the last-minute rush.

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Blog content is for information purposes and over time may become outdated, although we do strive to keep it current. It's written to help you understand your Tax's and is not to be relied upon as professional accounting, tax and legal advice due to differences in everyone's circumstances. For additional help please contact our support team or HMRC.