What are the most important 2026 UK monthly payroll deadlines and dates?

Between preparing for the end of the UK tax year and generally planning out your time, it’s critical to not miss those key payroll dates. 

Forgetting submission deadlines not only causes delays when running payroll, but can also lead to fines or penalties from HMRC. This resource outlines all the essential annual payroll deadlines UK businesses have to observe, to ensure their staff are paid correctly and on time.

Important recurring and annual payroll deadlines

Before we go into the details of each deadline, here is a summary table.

Recurring payroll :

Annual payroll :

Recurring monthly dates

As a reminder, here are some key payroll dates you’ll have to observe every month in order to have a smooth and compliant pay run:

1st of every month

This marks the start of automatic pension scheme enrolment duties for new employers, or the cyclical re-enrolment date for existing companies based on their original staging date.

5th of every month

The month-end date for PAYE.

19th of every month

The last day for submitting a Real-Time Information (RTI) Employment Payment Summary (EPS) for the previous tax month’s period.

22nd of every month

The deadline date for payment of PAYE and NICs to HMRC’s Accounts Office by an electronic method is the 22nd of each month. The deadline for submitting by cheque is the 19th of every month.

Annual deadlines

Gender pay gap reporting

1. 31st March / 5th of April

If you’re a public authority employer, you have until the 31st of March to submit your gender pay gap data for the previous tax year, and until the 5th of April if you’re a private employer. 
 You must gather your pay gap data by making a list of employees and their gender.

For your gender pay gap calculations, you’ll need to gather relevant information on all your employees. PayFit provides all of this data for you automatically.

Start of the tax year

2. 6th April

Nope, it’s not a bank holiday — it’s a major date for your payroll calendar (yay!). On the 6th of April, the new tax year begins, which means any regulatory and rate changes will come into effect. This is often when statutory rates for things like sick pay, maternity, paternity and shared parental leave are updated. So make sure you’re clear on what these mean for your organisation.

Final Employer Payment Summary (EPS) submission

3. 19th April

By the 19th of April, you must submit your final Employer Payment Summary (EPS) for the previous tax year. You must submit this to HMRC so they know there are no further submissions for the year in question. You must also formally declare that reporting for the tax year is complete. This can be done either in your final Full Payment Submission FPS or EPS submission. 

P60 deadline (for employees to receive)

4. 31st May

The 31st of May is the P60 deadline, or the day by which employees must receive their P60 if they were employed on the 5th of April of the current year.

Filing deadline for expenses and benefits forms

5. 6th July

By the 6th of July, you must file your P11D and P11D(b) expense and benefits with HMRC. It’s also the last date to give P11D forms to relevant employees, and the last date for the Employee Share Scheme Annual Return Form 42 to reach HMRC.

National Payroll Week

6. 2nd to 6th September

There’s more to payroll than sending out payslips, and that’s what this week signifies. Although actually paying employees is imperative to how your organisation operates, payroll data can help drive key business decisions too.

Payroll data unlocks useful information when it comes to identifying gender pay gaps, salary benchmarking to attract and retain great employees, and understanding and reallocating resources. 

Dedicate this week to educating the wider business on the important part payroll plays.

PAYE and Class 1B National Insurance Contributions (NICs)

7. 19th / 22nd October

If you submitted a PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) in July, this payment is for PAYE and NIC related to this. If paying by a non-electronic method, such as by cheque, your PAYE and Class 1B NIC will be due on the 19th of October, but if you’re paying electronically, this is due on the 22nd of October. 

What are the top tips to manage payroll deadlines efficiently?

There’s a lot to remember when running payroll, and if you have a small payroll team, it can get overwhelming fast. Using automated payroll software can help streamline the process and ensure you never miss a deadline.

To help you stay ahead, here is a suggested timeline for preparing your key payroll tasks:

Where can I found an HR & payroll calendar for 2026?

Keen to stay on top of dates, no matter how busy you get? Our free interactive calendar puts all essential payroll dates at your fingertips.

Access instantly online – no downloads, no sign-ups. View key deadlines, bank holidays, and payroll milestones for the entire year in one convenient, always-up-to-date platform. Bookmark it for quick reference, or share the link directly with your team to keep everyone aligned on critical dates.

Perfect for HR teams, payroll managers, and business owners who need reliable, easy-to-access date planning all year round.

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