📅 7 Key Accounting Dates Every UK Limited Company Director Must Know

As a limited company director, you're not just the face of your business, you're also legally responsible for ensuring your company meets its filing and tax obligations. Missing key deadlines doesn’t just cause admin headaches; it can lead to penalties, interest, and unnecessary stress.

At J-Benn Finance, we’ve pulled together seven key dates every director should have in their calendar. These will help you stay compliant, avoid fines, and make smarter financial decisions.

1. Annual Accounts Filing Deadline

Your company’s annual accounts must be filed with Companies House within nine months of your year-end.
🔍 For example, if your year-end is 31 March, your accounts are due by 31 December.
📌 Filing late will result in automatic penalties, making this one of the most important Ltd company tax deadlines to stay on top of.

2. Confirmation Statement Deadline

This is a yearly snapshot of your company’s structure and registered details, previously known as the annual return. It’s due 12 months from your incorporation date, with a 14-day submission window.
💡 You can check your confirmation statement due date on the Companies House website.

3. Corporation Tax Payment Date

Corporation Tax must be paid nine months and one day after your company’s accounting year-end.
Late payment can lead to interest and fines from HMRC. This is another critical item on the Ltd company tax deadlines list.

4. Self-Assessment and Payments on Account

Your personal tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April each year.

• Your tax return and any payments are due by 31 January of the following year.

• If your liability is over £1,000, you may need to make Payments on Account by 31 January and 31 July.

Dividends, salary, and rental income must all be included in your return. Don’t overlook this part of your UK company director obligations.

5. VAT Return Deadlines

VAT returns and payments are due one month and seven days after the end of your VAT period.
📌 For example, if your quarter ends on 31 August, your return and payment are due by 7 October.

6. Payroll (PAYE and P11D) Deadlines

If you're running payroll, PAYE and National Insurance payments are due by the 19th of the month following the end of the payroll period.
P11D forms, used to report employee benefits, are due by 6 July, with payment by 19 July.

These payroll obligations are key parts of your wider compliance checklist for business owners.

7. Dividends: Review Before 5 April

Although there’s no fixed due date for paying dividends, 5 April is a vital cut-off for tax planning.
Review your total income and decide whether to pay dividends before the tax year ends.
📌 Speak with your accountant before April to ensure your dividend strategy is tax-efficient and aligned with your UK company director obligations.

📆 Stay Ahead of Your Compliance

Add these key accounting dates for directors to your calendar now and set reminders in advance. Or, work with a proactive accountant who can manage this for you.

👉 Need help staying compliant and saving tax?
At J-Benn Finance, we support limited company directors with expert guidance, deadline tracking, and smart tax planning.
📩 Contact us at admin@j-benn.co.uk or book a free discovery meeting here