Benefits, tax and deadlines

You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after you register the birth, or once a child comes to live with you.

Child Benefit stops automatically on 31 August on or after your child's 16th birthday unless you tell HMRC they are staying in approved education or training.

For every £8 you pay into a childcare account, the government adds £2, up to £500 every 3 months for each child aged 11 or under.

Working parents in England may get 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged 9 months to 4 years.

If your child is in Year 6, apply for a secondary school place through your local council by 31 October.

If your child turns 4 between 1 September and 31 August, apply for a Reception place through your local council by 15 January.

If you live in Scotland, look after a child under 16 and get Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit, you may be entitled to Scottish Child Payment of £28.20 a week for each child, paid every 4 weeks.

If you live in Scotland, you may be entitled to a School Age Payment of £331.95 per child when your child starts school.

If your husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died and you are under State Pension age, you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment.

If you started self-employment or letting property and have not filed a tax return before, tell HMRC by 5 October after the end of the tax year (tax years run from 6 April to 5 April).

A paper tax return for the last tax year (6 April to 5 April) must reach HMRC by 11:59pm on 31 October.

File your online tax return for the last tax year and pay the tax you owe by 11:59pm on 31 January.

If you make payments on account, the second one is due by midnight on 31 July.

Sign in to your HMRC online account or the HMRC app to check your tax code, Personal Allowance and estimated income.

Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025 had to start Making Tax Digital on 6 April 2026.

In 2026 to 2027 you pay Class 4 National Insurance on profits over £12,570: 6% up to £50,270 and 2% above.

VAT-registered businesses submit a VAT return online, usually every 3 months.

You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000.

Cars over 3 years old need an MOT every year.

You must tax your car to use it on the road, even if the tax is £0.

You must have at least third party insurance to drive on UK roads.

The first £1,000 of rental income each tax year is tax-free.

If you live alone, you may get money off your Council Tax bill.

You may get £150 off your electricity bill if, on 23 August 2026, you or your partner got certain means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

You can save up to £20,000 in ISAs in the 2026 to 2027 tax year, which ends on 5 April 2027.

If you are 18 or over but under 40, you can open a Lifetime ISA and pay in up to £4,000 each tax year.

You must renew a photocard driving licence every 10 years.

It costs £102 to renew an adult passport online or £115.50 with a paper form.

You normally only need to register to vote once, but you must register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

If you're looking for work and have paid Class 1 National Insurance for the previous 2 tax years, you may be entitled to New Style JSA for up to 182 days (about 6 months).

If you work for an employer on 5 April, they must give you a P60 by 31 May.

If you pay for things you need for your job, such as uniforms, tools or professional fees, you can claim tax relief.

In England, the NHS offers bowel cancer screening to people aged 50 to 74 every 2 years.

In England, people aged 40 to 74 should be invited to a free NHS Health Check every 5 years.

In England, you automatically get free NHS prescriptions and free NHS sight tests if you are aged 60 or over.

You will not get your State Pension automatically – you have to claim it.

If you have reached State Pension age and are on a low income, you may be entitled to Pension Credit.

If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may get £100 to £300 for winter 2026 to 2027.

You can usually pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for the past 6 years only, and the deadline is 5 April each year.

Once you reach 70, you must renew your driving licence every 3 years.

If you are 70 or over and live alone in Northern Ireland, you may get 20% off your rates.

You can get a free TV Licence if you are 75 or over and you, or your partner who lives with you, get Pension Credit.