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Deadline Guardian.

Last reviewed June 2026 - check GOV.UK for the latest figures · Source HMRC + DWP + HMCTS + Companies House + 24 UK deadlines

Track letters, appeals, benefits, financial support, council tax, housing, bills and life admin before they become problems. Sorted lists every important UK deadline, when it’s due, what happens if you miss it, and the tool, claim or next step that can help.

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Free No login Sourced to GOV.UK Updated 2026/27
1.1 million UK Self Assessment late filers each year
£100 Automatic HMRC fine on day one of late filing
£10 per day Daily HMRC penalty after 3 months late
Sources: HMRC published Self Assessment late-filing stats · HMRC penalty schedule

Tax & HMRC

Self Assessment online return

31 Jan

Submit your previous tax-year return online. Applies if you’re self-employed, a landlord, a company director or earn over £150k.

Miss it: Automatic £100 fine on day 1, daily £10 fines after 3 months (max £900), then 5% of tax owed at 6 and 12 months.
Got an HMRC letter? Decode it →

Self Assessment paper return

31 Oct

Same return, paper version. If you miss the October paper deadline, you must file online by 31 January instead.

Miss it: No fine if you switch to online before 31 Jan. After that, same fines as the online deadline.
Got an HMRC letter? Decode it →

First payment on account

31 Jan

If you owed more than £1,000 last year, HMRC asks for half of next year’s estimated tax in advance, due the same day as your return.

Miss it: Interest charged at HMRC base + 2.5%. No automatic fine but interest accrues daily.
Got a payment-on-account letter? Decode it →

Second payment on account

31 Jul

Second half of the next year’s estimated tax. Often missed because it’s six months after the main deadline.

Miss it: Same interest as the first payment. Settle as soon as you can to stop the daily clock.
Got a reminder? Decode it →

Benefits & appeals

Mandatory Reconsideration (DWP)

1 month

Time to ask DWP to reconsider a benefit decision (UC, PIP, ESA, JSA). Counted from the date on the decision letter, not the date you received it.

Miss it: You can request late up to 13 months with a strong reason, but DWP can refuse. After that, the decision stands.
Need PIP help? →

Benefit tribunal appeal

1 month

After the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, you have one month to appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal (HMCTS).

Miss it: Late appeals possible up to 13 months with reasons, then absolutely final. Tribunal overturns 67% of PIP decisions.
PIP appeal helper →

PIP review (light-touch)

When asked

DWP reviews most PIP claims every 3 or 10 years. They send a form (AR1) — usually you get 4 weeks to return it.

Miss it: PIP can be suspended or stopped. You’d then have to claim again from scratch.
PIP help →

UC Claimant Commitment review

Ongoing

Universal Credit work-search commitments. Missing scheduled appointments or activities can trigger sanctions.

Miss it: Sanctions reduce UC by 100% of the standard allowance for 7 days, 28 days, or 91 days depending on the offence.
Benefits helper →

Documents & ID

Passport renewal

6 months ahead

Many countries require 6 months’ passport validity from date of entry. Renew well before expiry — HMPO standard turnaround is 3 weeks but can be longer in summer.

Miss it: Refused boarding on flights to most non-EU destinations. Renewal still possible but priced higher for fast-track.
Renewal checklist →

Driving licence renewal

Every 10 years

Photo card must be renewed every 10 years. DVLA writes to you 56 days before. From age 70 it’s every 3 years.

Miss it: Driving on an expired licence is a £1,000 fine and possible penalty points.
Got a DVLA letter? Decode it →

MOT

Annually

Required from the third anniversary of first registration (or first anniversary for some categories). Can be done up to 1 month early without losing the renewal date.

Miss it: Driving without a valid MOT is a £1,000 fine and invalidates your insurance.
Insurance refused due to no MOT? →

BRP / eVisa update

When changes

Biometric Residence Permits expire 31 Dec 2024 — visa holders now use the GOV.UK eVisa system. Linked email and phone must stay current.

Miss it: Can’t prove right to work, right to rent, or right to access NHS secondary care.
Arrival checklist →

Bills & renewals

Council tax bill

Monthly

Most councils give 10 monthly instalments (April–January). One missed payment can trigger a reminder, two can trigger loss of instalments.

Miss it: Lose right to pay in instalments — council can demand the full year in 7 days, then take you to magistrates’ court.
Can I ignore this? →

TV Licence

Annually

£180/yr for colour (2026/27, from 1 April 2026). Free if over 75 and on Pension Credit. Required for any live TV or BBC iPlayer.

Miss it: Maximum fine of £1,000 plus prosecution costs. About 75% of TV Licence court cases are women, per published Ministry of Justice data.
Got a TV Licensing letter? Decode it →

Insurance renewal (car, home)

When notified

Insurer must send renewal notice at least 21 days before renewal date. You can switch any time before then.

Miss it: Auto-renewal at the new (usually higher) price. Average loyalty markup was banned for FCA-regulated insurers in 2022 — check FCA pricing rules apply.
Stop overpaying →

Energy fixed-rate end date

When notified

Supplier must contact you 49–42 days before a fixed-rate ends. After that date you roll onto the price-cap variable tariff — usually more expensive.

Miss it: Pay more from day one. Switching takes 5 working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee.
Compare and save →

Business filings

Companies House confirmation statement

Annually

Free if filed online (£13 paper). Due once a year on the anniversary of incorporation. Companies House sends reminders 2–3 weeks before.

Miss it: Companies House can strike the company off the register — assets become bona vacantia (Crown property).
Business deadline tracker →

Companies House annual accounts

9 months after year-end

Filed at Companies House. Private companies have 9 months from their accounting reference date. First accounts: 21 months from incorporation.

Miss it: Auto-penalties: £150 (≤1 month late), £375 (1–3), £750 (3–6), £1,500 (>6 months). Doubled if late two years running.
Business deadlines →

VAT return (quarterly)

Every 3 months

Due 1 month and 7 days after end of VAT quarter. Most submit via Making Tax Digital software. Payment due the same day.

Miss it: Penalty points system — 4 points = £200 fine, plus interest at HMRC base + 2.5% on the late tax.
Business deadlines →

Corporation Tax return + payment

9 + 12 months

Payment due 9 months and 1 day after year-end. Return (CT600) due 12 months after year-end. Note: payment comes first.

Miss it: Late filing penalty starts at £100. Late payment triggers interest at HMRC late-payment rate, charged daily.
Business deadlines →

Appeals & complaints

Council parking PCN appeal

28 days

Pay within 14 days to halve the fine, or appeal within 28 days. If rejected, escalate to a Notice to Owner, then to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (or London Tribunals).

Miss it: Full PCN due. Continued non-payment triggers debt registration and bailiff action.
Appeal a parking ticket →

Private parking ticket appeal

28 days

Appeal to the operator first. If rejected, escalate to POPLA (British Parking Association) or IAS (International Parking Community) within 28 days of the rejection.

Miss it: Operator can pursue through county court (CCJ risk). Defending is possible but harder.
Parking appeal helper →

Financial Ombudsman complaint

6 months

After receiving a final response from a bank/insurer/lender, you have 6 months to escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Service is free.

Miss it: FOS won’t consider the case. Court is the only remaining route — slower and at your cost.
Draft complaint →

Housing Ombudsman complaint

12 months

After your landlord (council or housing association) gives a final response, you have 12 months to escalate to the Housing Ombudsman. Repairs, mould, complaints handling.

Miss it: Ombudsman won’t investigate. Some councils require ALL complaint stages exhausted first — check before missing the deadline.
Repairs helper →
Honest note: Deadlines change with each tax year and government update. Every fact above is sourced to GOV.UK, HMRC, DWP, Companies House, the FOS, the Housing Ombudsman or BPA/IAS — check the official page before you act. Sorted is independent and not affiliated with any UK government body. If we got something wrong, tell us at corrections@sorteduk.uk.

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