HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder that there are now 100 days left until the Self Assessment deadline on January 31, 2027. The notice was released today, October 23, 2026, urging taxpayers to file their returns early to avoid last-minute stress.
Around 12 million people are expected to submit a Self Assessment tax return by the January deadline. HMRC is encouraging customers to file early so they can find out what they owe, budget for any tax payment due, receive any refund sooner, and avoid last-minute stress.
Who Needs to File a Self Assessment Tax Return
You can file your Self Assessment tax return online if you are self-employed, or if you are not self-employed but still send a tax return, for example because you receive income from renting out a property. You can file your tax return anytime on or after April 6 following the end of the tax year.
You must send your tax return by the deadline or you will get a penalty.
Registering for Self Assessment
If you did not file a tax return this year and are filing for the first time, you must register for Self Assessment before using this service. Registering prompts HMRC to issue your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), which usually takes up to 10 working days to arrive by post.
The deadline for having registered to file a tax return for the 2025–26 tax year has now passed (October 5, 2026). If you have registered for Self Assessment before but did not send a tax return last year, you may need to reactivate your Self Assessment account.
The previous tax year started on April 6, 2025, and ended on April 5, 2026.
