ICAEW’s Tax Faculty reminds businesses that the deadline for submitting a VAT return and paying any VAT due to HMRC is not extended even if it falls on a weekend or Bank Holiday. The general rule is one calendar month and 7 days after the end of the accounting period, with specific dates for each period in 2026/27. Paper returns and the annual accounting scheme have their own distinct deadlines.
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Express · 4 days ago
HMRC has announced new VAT road fuel scale charges for petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK, effective from 1 May 2026 and lasting until 30 April 2027. The charges vary by CO2 emissions and accounting period, with specific rates for 12‑month, 3‑month and 1‑month periods. Businesses must adopt the new scales from the next prescribed accounting period beginning on or after 1 May 2026.
iNews · 5 days ago
The UK government has introduced a new VAT road fuel charge regime effective from 1 May 2026, applying to all VAT‑registered businesses that reclaim VAT on fuel used for private company car use. The charges vary by vehicle CO2 emissions and accounting period, with rates ranging from £54 to £190 per month or £657 to £2,297 per 12‑month period. Businesses must calculate the correct charge based on CO2 emissions or engine size if no CO2 figure is available.
Geo · 5 days ago
HMRC has launched new VAT road fuel scale charges for petrol and diesel drivers in the UK, effective from 1 May 2026 and lasting until 30 April 2027. The charges vary by CO₂ emissions band, ranging from £657 for low‑emission vehicles to £2,297 for high‑emission ones over a 12‑month period. Drivers can account for the charges annually, quarterly or monthly and must calculate the applicable rate for each period.
Electrifying · 15 days ago
The UK Treasury has appealed a tax tribunal decision that ruled public electric vehicle charge points should be subject to 5% VAT. The tribunal had determined that public charge points fall within the domestic electricity supply VAT cut, but the government is contesting this. The appeal was lodged within the 56‑day deadline.
Law360 · 20 days ago
A UK court decision allows a travel agency to contest HM Revenue & Customs’ trimming of its VAT credit by approximately £187,000. The ruling spiked the tax authority’s bid for an early end to the case, giving the agency the right to pursue a full challenge. The case highlights the importance of monitoring HMRC adjustments and the potential for judicial review.
FE Week · about 1 month ago
The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Colchester Institute in a VAT dispute with HMRC, allowing the college to reclaim VAT on pre‑2010 capital projects. The decision could extend to an estimated 20‑30 other colleges and raises uncertainty for charities that may lose VAT discounts. The ruling centres on the Lennartz mechanism, which HMRC had withdrawn in 2010.
The return is due on 7 June 2026, one calendar month and 7 days after the period end.
No, the deadline remains unchanged even if it falls on a weekend or bank holiday.
Paper returns must reach HMRC by the last day of the month following the return period.
The deadline is two months after the end of the period.
This summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 7 May 2026. It relates to VAT developments in United Kingdom. The original source is ICAEW.
