What is Tax year?
Last verified 23 October 2026
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. The current tax year is 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027, usually written as the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
Why it matters to landlords
Your rental income and expenses are reported by tax year, not calendar year, so the date income is received or a cost is incurred decides which year it belongs to. The Self Assessment return for a tax year is due online by 31 January after it ends, and any tax still owed is due the same day. A paper return is due by 31 October.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax follows the same year. The standard quarterly update periods start on 6 April, and whether you must join is decided by qualifying income on an earlier year's return: the 2024 to 2025 year for April 2026, 2025 to 2026 for April 2027 and 2026 to 2027 for April 2028. Tax rates and allowances are also set for each tax year, so always check which year a figure relates to.
Example
Rent received on 3 April 2027 belongs to the 2026 to 2027 tax year, with the return due by 31 January 2028. Rent received on 6 April 2027 belongs to 2027 to 2028.
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Related terms
- Self Assessment deadlines
- Quarterly period (update period)
- Calendar update periods
- MTD threshold
- Self Assessment