Sage Tax Calendar

By Antonio Garcia Feb 13, 2026 13 min

Sage Tax Calendar 25/26 – Key Deadlines And Tips

April is around the corner, and for every entrepreneur, the schedule is quite hectic. Well, the 2025-26 tax year isn’t just a sequence of numbers on a spreadsheet, but a highly risky set of thresholds, deadlines, and changing compliance standards. Without Sage tax calendar 25/26, you’re just roaming through a digital mess of receipts and what-ifs. Don’t you? But what if you could navigate the next twelve months precisely? For this, get your hands on the tax calendar, which can help you plan accordingly and achieve financial peace of mind.

The calendar has filtered the complex net of HMRC and IRS milestones into a streamlined, slang-free platform. You won’t have to undergo more complex calculations or lose in the mail excuses from the authorities. This tax calendar will help you start the tax season off right with Sage automated foresight.

Need further information on Sage tax calendar 25/26? Feel free to connect with our experts at +1-844-341-4437 and have a one-on-one conversation with our Sage experts!

What Is Sage Payroll Tax Calendar 2025/26 All About?

Specifically developed for business entrepreneurs like you, Sage payroll tax calendar 2025/26 is built with functionality that holds a system-defined schedule of financial periods, tax months, and tax weeks. It majorly helps you accurately and timely manage your payroll submissions, tax compliance, and reporting.

Sage Payroll Tax Calendar 2025/2026

For companies across the UK and the U.S., Sage Payroll Tax Calendar is a critical schedule of tax deadlines and software-specific tasks. Users with Sage accounting and payroll software must go through the calendar to mark all the key dates. These are starting from April 6, 2025, to April 5, 2026, in the UK, and January 1 to December 31 in the U.S.

Beyond just a list of dates, it’s a roadmap for Sage users to stay updated with the compliance standards and be aware of when to update the software, file a tax return, and submit forms to HMRC. Have a look at the following aspects of Sage payroll tax calendar 2025/26 for a better understanding:

1. Tax Weeks And Tax Months

The calendar keeps tracking the weeks and monthly cycles as per the tax months running from the 6th to the 5th date of the following month.

2. Payroll Dates Alignment

This is to set up the Pay Reference Periods (PRP) for weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. The calendar aligns payment dates with the required tax submission dates in real-time. The entire financial data and its tracking are cloud-based.

3. Financial Reporting Period

Sage 300 users are allowed to lock/unlock specific periods to manage their account closing through the fiscal calendar.

4. Tax Year-End

Particularly within payroll, the Tax year-end function in the calendar defines the start and end of the tax year, which is from April 6 to April 5 in the UK, and January 1 to December 31 in the U.S. This tracking allows accurate reconciliation of financial data, which is crucial while generating the final tax return.

What Is Sage Payroll New Tax Year Checklist 2026?

The payroll year is about to end. For paying via post, April 19 is the final submission date, while April 22 is the date for digital payment. Before finalizing your accounts and closing the books, you need to consider Sage payroll’s new tax year checklist 2026. Below are the year-end things to do:

  • Check and confirm your payroll end date, which is possibly week 53, 54, or week 56.

◦ Weekly payroll on April 5, which is the 53rd week of the payroll.
◦ Two-weekly payroll, which falls on April 5. It’s the 54th payroll week.
◦ Four-weekly payroll on April 5, which falls between April 5 and May 2 in the 56th payroll week.

  • You need to check for new starters or leavers, as it’s crucial to ensure the correct calculations and deductions before submitting your final FPS and EPS.
  • Make sure you process your final pay run of the tax year 2025/26. Along with this, ensure recording the P32 payment to HMRC.
  • Use Sage 50 payroll software to process your year-end by choosing the tax year you have to conclude. By this, submit your final EPS to HMRC.
  • Remember to get your P60s ready. As an employer, ensure you provide a P60 to your employees. The period is between April 5 and May 31.
  • The P9X is the HMRC document that you need to check before starting your new payroll year. This document contains the tax codes that employers need to update or carry forward on April 6.

How To Get Ready For The New Tax Year – 2026 Checklist

To ensure you’re ready to step into the new tax year, you must perform the tasks below as per Sage Payroll New Tax Year Checklist 2026:

1. Check Your Software Version

Before you proceed with the new tax year, check your software version. For this:

  • Sign in to your Sage 50 software program using the correct user credentials.
  • Next, choose the Help option, and then hit the About alternative. By this, you will get a drop-down menu, from which you need to click the Program Details option.
  • This option will provide you with the exact version number of your Sage software.

2. Update The Tax Codes

For Sage 50 payroll year end 2026, the emergency tax code and personal allowance are the same, which is at £12,570 and 1257L.

It indicates that you don’t have to update any employee tax codes unless directed by the HMRC. However, you need to clear the week1 or month1 flags.

3. Claim For Employment Allowance

Make sure you apply to claim the employment allowance at the beginning of every tax year. For this:

  • Open your Sage software, and click the Company button. Next, choose the Settings option.
  • Now, hit the Apply for EA option. It will display the State Aid drop-down menu. From here, you need to choose any one of the options: Applicable or Non-Applicable.
  • In case the state aid is applicable, choose the appropriate State Aid Sector. Afterward, hit the Submit option, and then hit the Continue button.
  • Next, click the Submit button.

4. Apply To Claim SER (Small Employers’ Relief)

Typically, a company qualifies for SER if it is liable for National Insurance contributions of £45,000 or less in the last complete tax year. Follow the prompts for more:

  • Firstly, hit the Company option, and then choose the Settings alternative.
  • Next, tick the Eligible for Small Employers’ Relief check box.
  • Afterward, hit the OK button.

Key Legislative Updates

Never overlook the legislative changes; they matter! Sage Payroll New Tax Year Checklist 2026 also indicates the following compliance updates for the new 2025-26:

  • For Employer National Insurance, the rate has been increased from 13.8% to 15%. Along with this, the secondary threshold has dropped to £5,000.
  • Sage users, those who’re earning >£50k, need to start digital record-keeping. From April 2026, it’s mandatory for Income Tax as per the Making Tax Digital aspects.

Sage Software Updates

To stay compliant during Sage tax calendar 25/26, users need to perform specific Sage software updates. Here’s what action to take:

  • The software typically releases an update for Sage 50 Payroll, containing the new 2025/26 tax bands, student loan thresholds, and the latest 15% Employer National Insurance rate.
  • From April 6, Sage users must use the feature called Global Changes to update employee tax codes based on HMRC instructions.
  • From April 1, 2025, users manually update pay elements in Sage to reflect the new £12.21 National Living Wage rate.
  • If the payday falls on Sunday or Saturday, Sage will alert the user to process a “Week 53” to ensure their tax is correctly calculated across 53 weeks instead of 52.

UK Tax Deadlines 2025-2026 Tax Year

For any individual running a business and who is looking forward to proceeding with the new tax year, the following dates are non-negotiable:

The Wrap-Up Phase Of 2024-25 From April To July 2025

Before stepping into the 2025/26 year, you need to close the previous one. The specific Sage Tax Calendar dates are:

  • April 6, 2025 – It’s the day that initiates the 2025/26 tax year.
  • April 19, 2025 – The deadline date for the final Full Payment Submission for the financial year.
  • April 22, 2025 – The final day for electronic payment of PAYE. Also, it’s the deadline for NICs for the final month of the previous year.
  • May 31, 2025 – By this date, the employer needs to provide P60s to all employees.
  • July 6, 2025 – Deadline to submit P11D, which is for expenses and benefits for the 2024/25 year.
  • July 31, 2025 – This day is for the second payment on account for 2024/25 Self Assessment.

The 2025-26 Cycle From August 2025 To January 2026

  • October 5, 2025 – It’s the final date to get registered for Self Assessment. It’s for those who started a business in the 2024/25 tax year.
  • October 31, 2025 – The final day for paper Self Assessment tax returns.
  • December 30, 2025 – Deadline to file online if an individual wants HMRC to collect tax via their 2026/27 tax code.
  • January 31, 2026 – This one is major for the Online Self Assessment deadline and balancing payment for 2024/25.

The Phase Of 2025/26 Year-End In April 2026

  • April 5, 2026 – It’s the final and end date of the 2025/26 tax year.
  • April 6, 2026 – This day marks the start of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, which begins for sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000.

Monthly And Quarterly Sage Tax Calendar Deadlines

Monthly and quarterly Sage tax calendar deadlines are essential because they ensure legal compliance, keep positive cash flow, and control severe financial fines. Adhering to these deadlines, particularly for payroll tax and quarterly estimated payments, helps businesses avoid interest charges and penalties.

Below, we have created an insightful table for better learning.

Key Date

Deadline Type

What You Must Do?

6 April 2025

Start of Tax Year

Need to update employee tax codes and NI rates in Sage

19th/22nd Monthly

PAYE/NIC/CIS

Pay HMRC (19th by post, 22nd electronic)

31 May 2025

P60 Deadline

Issue P60s to all active employees as of 5 April

6 July 2025

P11D Deadline

Report employee expenses and benefits

31 July 2025

Payment on Account

Second payment for the 2024/25 tax year due

31 Jan 2026

Self Assessment

File 24/25 return online and pay balancing charge

5 April 2026

End of Tax Year

Complete year-end processing and archive reports

How Do VAT And Corporation Tax Operate In Sage Tax Calendar?

For both the VAT and Corporation Tax, Sage Tax Calendar operates differently. While Corporation Tax deadlines relate to a company’s financial year-end, VAT is typically driven by fixed quarterly periods.

Let’s separately discuss the two taxes.

Corporation Tax – Sage Calendar Deadlines

Deadlines for Corporation Tax completely depend on your Accounting Reference Data.

  • Typically, its payment deadline is 9 months and 1 day after closing your accounting period.
  • Your CT600 must be filed within 12 months of your financial year-end.

VAT (Value Added Tax) In Sage Tax Calendar

VAT follows a quarterly shake-up. If you’re running a business in the UK, ensure you submit your return and pay HMRC within 1 month and 7 days after closing your accounts.

Here are the deadlines:

Quarterly Period

Submission And Payment Deadline

Jan 1 – March 31, 2025

May 7, 2025

April 1 – June 30, 2025

August 7, 2025

June 1 – Sep 30, 2025

November 7, 2025

Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025

February 7, 2026

Jan 1 – March 31, 2026

May 7, 2026

Sage accounting is MTD-ready, which makes Sage payroll tax calendar 2025/26 update you with the VAT and corporation Tax in the UK, helping you manage the MTD deadlines and requirements.

MTD For Corporation Tax

While Sage Accounting monitors your profit and loss, you or your accountant will use the Sage Production or Sage Corporation Tax module to extract that data into a CT600 for filing.

MTD For VAT

To help business owners submit the quarterly returns, Sage software directly connects to HMRC. Along with the real-time updates of the tax calendar, it also helps them get automatic estimates and eliminate manual data entry.

Tips To Utilize Sage Tax Calendar

The tips below can help you transform a basic scheduling tool into a proactive compliance one. Maximizing the use of Sage Tax Calendar helps businesses avoid severe financial penalties and manage complex, multi-jurisdictional tax obligations. Take a look:

  • Automated Updates

Remind users to run Sage Check for Updates tool to ensure the 2025/26 legislation pack is installed.

  • P11D Submission

How to use Sage P11D module to file benefits directly to HMRC.

  • VAT Cloud Connection

Explain how the VAT Return feature in Sage Business Cloud handles the 1 month + 7 days deadline automatically.

  • MTD (Making Tax Digital) Readiness

A call-to-action to check if their current Sage version is MTD ready before the 2026 mandates hit.

Plan Strategically With Sage Tax Calendar

Using Sage payroll tax calendar 2025/26 and its automated reminders plus cloud-based tax solutions, you can plan taxes accordingly. The calendar assures you stay compliant in real-time with dynamic regulations. Now, get ready for effective tax planning with AI-powered insights. We hope this blog has helped you know about the calendar and how to maximize it for tax planning. For any further problems or professional advice, feel free to contact us at +1-844-341-4437.

Frequently Asked Questions

When To Process In Sage Payroll?

Employees can process on the day they receive their money. For this, you need to open your Sage 50 payroll and set the process date accordingly.

How Do I Start A New Financial Year In Sage 50?

To get started with the new fiscal year in your Sage 50, you must open Sage 50 payroll and go to the Home section. Herein, click the Maintenance menu, and click the Start New Year button.

When Does Sage Payroll Tax Year 2025/26 Begin And End?

The UK payroll tax year has began from April 6, 2025. It will end on April 5, 2026. However, in early March, Sage released its Year-End software update, integrated with Sage payroll tax calendar 2025/26 to help users plan the entire tax year.

What Are Sage Tax Calendar 25/26 Deadlines For PAYE/NI?

The tax and national insurance that you’ve deducted from your employees must be paid to HMRC. To pay via post, the date is the 19th of the respective month, whereas to pay online, the 22nd is the date of that very month.

About The Author

Antonio Garcia

Antonio Garcia

Antonio Garcia writes for Sage Online Solution and helps businesses manage their financial books more effectively. He offers practical advice and solutions that simplify accounting software use, so companies handle their finances with ease and accuracy. With years of experience, Antonio understands what businesses need to succeed. He aims to make accounting less stressful for everyone.