HMRC said 8 October 2026 · Self Assessment
Self Assessment: HMRC's 8 October 2026 press release encourages customers to start their tax return now and restates the 31 October 2026 paper and 31 January 2027 online deadlines.
HMRC published a press release on GOV.UK on 8 October 2026 encouraging Self Assessment customers to start their tax return now. It gives the paper deadline as 31 October 2026 and the online deadline as 31 January 2027 for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. It is not a letter, an email or a text, and it asks for no payment and no personal details.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · How Tax Letters checks its facts
- Who gets it
- Self Assessment customers for the 2025 to 2026 tax year.
- How it arrives
- A press release published on GOV.UK.
- HMRC's dates
- Paper return: 31 October 2026. Online return: 31 January 2027. The release also says customers with a PAYE income can file online before 30 December to have tax owed collected through their tax code.
- Clock fixed by law?
- No. This is a press release, with no reply-by date.
What it asks
HMRC encourages Self Assessment customers to start their tax return now. It also says that around 300,000 customers who pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge through Self Assessment will now have Child Benefit payment details pre-populated on their online return.
What to check
- Check the source: the release is on GOV.UK, published 8 October 2026.
- Compare the dates with GOV.UK's Self Assessment deadlines page.
- If everything matches, nothing is needed from the release itself.
Does it match HMRC's description?
It matches HMRC's description if it is the GOV.UK press release published on 8 October 2026 and says what is quoted below. A message that cites it and asks for a payment, card details or a password asks for something the release does not.
HMRC's own words
More than a quarter of people said they experience anxiety before financial deadlines, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals ahead of World Mental Health Day (10 October), encouraging Self Assessment customers to start their tax return now.
GOV.UK: Starting early is key to less stress around Self Assessment, read 10 October 2026The deadline for paper tax returns for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 October 2026. Online filers have until 31 January 2027.
GOV.UK: Starting early is key to less stress around Self Assessment, read 10 October 2026Self Assessment customers with a PAYE income can file online before 30 December and have any tax owed collected via their tax code.
GOV.UK: Starting early is key to less stress around Self Assessment, read 10 October 2026For customers who pay their High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) through Self Assessment, around 300,000 will now have their or their partner’s Child Benefit payment details pre‑populated on their online Self Assessment tax return, making it easier for liable customers to complete an accurate tax return.
GOV.UK: Starting early is key to less stress around Self Assessment, read 10 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Starting early is key to less stress around Self Assessment, read 10 October 2026
Checked against the sources above on the dates shown. Information, not advice.