Before 5 April 2026
Use your ISA allowance
You can contribute up to £20,000 across all ISA types. Unused allowance does not carry forward.
Use your pension annual allowance
Up to £60,000 in pension contributions (including employer contributions and tax relief). Check if you have carry forward from the previous three years.
Use your annual gift exemptions
£3,000 annual exemption (can carry forward one year if unused). Plus £250 small gifts to any number of individuals.
Use your Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount
£3,000 of gains are tax-free. Consider selling and rebuying assets (known as bed and ISA) to crystallise gains within the allowance.
Review salary sacrifice
Salary sacrifice pension contributions save both income tax and National Insurance. Check if your employer offers it.
Check marriage allowance eligibility
If one partner earns below the personal allowance (£12,570), they can transfer £1,260 to the other — saving up to £252 per year.
File self-assessment if needed
The deadline for online self-assessment for 2024/25 is 31 January 2026. Don’t leave it until the last minute.
After 6 April 2026
New tax year opens
All annual allowances reset. ISA, pension, Capital Gains Tax, and gift exemptions start fresh.
Check new rates and thresholds
Review any changes to tax bands, National Insurance, or allowances announced in the Budget.