Leaving-the-UK Deadline Tracker
Leaving the UK is the easy part. Missing an HMRC date afterwards — a refund window, the 60-day property report, the 31 January return — is the expensive part. Tell us when you left; we'll build your dated list and drop it into your calendar.
This free tracker turns your leaving date and circumstances into a dated list of the UK tax deadlines that apply to you — P85 timing, Self Assessment (register by 5 October, paper return 31 October, online return and payment 31 January), the 60-day non-resident property report, and voluntary National Insurance dates — then exports them to your calendar. Dates depend on your facts; confirm with HMRC (gov.uk; 2026/27).
Your HMRC deadlines, in your calendar.
From the 60-day property report to the 31 January return, the tracker pins the dates that apply to you and exports them as a calendar file — built on your device.
Your leaving-the-UK deadlines, dated.
Tell us when you left and a few details. We'll build a dated list of the HMRC deadlines that apply to you — the 60-day property report, the 31 January return, the refund window — and export them to your calendar.
- Your dated list is shown before any email field
- Exports a calendar file (.ics) built on your device
- Runs in your browser, nothing stored by us, no upsell
What are the UK tax deadlines when you leave the UK?
Direct answer: They hang off two things — the tax year you left in (the tax year runs 6 April to 5 April) and, if you sell UK property, the day the sale completes. The main ones: tell HMRC with a P85 (or report leaving on a Self Assessment return); if you're in Self Assessment, register by 5 October, file on paper by 31 October or online by 31 January, and pay by 31 January; report a UK property sale within 60 days of completion; and pay voluntary National Insurance within the 6-year window (deadline 5 April each year). (gov.uk, “Self Assessment deadlines”; “CGT for non-residents”; “Voluntary NICs”; 2026/27.)
This tracker does one thing the generic "tax dates" pages don't: it asks your circumstances, drops the deadlines that don't apply to you, dates the ones that do from your own leaving and completion dates, and hands you a calendar file. HMRC wrote the rules. We translated them, dated them, sourced them — and built the tracker. It's a planner, not a ruling.
Do I file a P85 or a Self Assessment return — and which dates apply?
Direct answer: It's a fork of route, not paper-versus-online. If you do not file Self Assessment for the year you left, you tell HMRC with a P85 — there's no fixed filing deadline, but a refund of overpaid Income Tax is generally claimable for up to 4 years after the tax year ends. If you do file Self Assessment, you don't file a P85 — you report leaving on the SA109 residence pages of your return, which brings in the 5 October, 31 October and 31 January dates. (gov.uk, “Tax if you leave the UK”; P85 guidance; SA109 notes; 2026/27.)
The P85 route is light: one form, a generous window, and the only hard rule is procedural — if you haven't left the UK yet, you must print and post it (the online service is for people who've already gone). The Self Assessment route is date-heavy, and there's a catch the tracker bakes in: the SA109 residence pages cannot use HMRC's free online filing service, so you either file on paper by 31 October or use commercial software / an agent online by 31 January. The full step-by-step is in our P85 form guide.
What are the Self Assessment deadlines for a non-resident leaver?
Direct answer: For the tax year you left (call its end year Y): register by 5 October Y if you're not already in Self Assessment; file a paper return by 31 October Y; file online (commercial software or an agent, because the SA109 can't use HMRC's free service) by 31 January Y+1; and pay any tax due by 31 January Y+1. (gov.uk, “Self Assessment tax returns: deadlines”; 2026/27.)
| Self Assessment deadline | Date (departure tax year ending Y) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Register / tell HMRC you need to file | 5 October Y | Only if you're not already registered for Self Assessment |
| Paper return (SA100 + SA109) | 31 October Y | The paper route — and the SA109 can't use HMRC's free online service |
| Online return | 31 January Y+1 | Needs commercial software or an agent for the SA109 |
| Balancing payment | 31 January Y+1 | Pay the tax you owe for the year |
(Worked: leave in 2026/27 → register by 5 October 2027, paper by 31 October 2027, online + pay by 31 January 2028.) Why a leaver is in Self Assessment at all — renting out UK property, self-employment, a gain to report, high income — is covered in the P85 form guide.
What is the 60-day deadline to report a UK property sale as a non-resident?
Direct answer: If you're non-resident and sell UK land or property, you must report and pay any Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of the completion date — and you must report even if there's no tax to pay or you made a loss (for completions on or after 27 October 2021). The gain also goes on your Self Assessment return. (gov.uk, “Capital Gains Tax for non-residents: UK residential property”; 2026/27.)
This is the date people miss, because it runs from completion, not from the tax-year-end, and it lands long before the return. The tracker dates it from the completion date you enter (e.g. complete on 10 March 2027 → report and pay by 9 May 2027) and flags that it's report-then-also-return. To estimate the gain itself — including rebasing to 2015 or 2019 market value — use the non-resident capital gains tax calculator.
Are there deadlines for paying voluntary National Insurance from abroad?
Direct answer: Yes. You normally apply with form CF83, and you can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 years — the deadline is 5 April each year (so a 2026/27 gap can be filled until 5 April 2033). From 6 April 2026, voluntary Class 2 for periods abroad was removed: most new applicants now pay Class 3 (£18.40/week, 2026/27) and must meet a new 10-year UK-residence/contributions test. (gov.uk, “Voluntary National Insurance: deadlines”; voluntary NICs for periods abroad from 6 April 2026; 2026/27.)
National Insurance is a separate regime from Income Tax — it can keep running, or be worth topping up, long after your Income Tax position settles. If you want to protect your State Pension while away, the 6-year window is generous but not infinite, so the tracker dates the backstop. Apply early via CF83; HMRC then confirms the class and amount. Estimate whether voluntary NI is worth it →
Is this tracker tax advice?
Direct answer: No. Quit UK Tax is an educational resource, not a regulated tax, legal or financial adviser. The tracker dates published HMRC deadlines from the facts you enter; it doesn't assess your circumstances, speak for HMRC, or list every obligation you might have. Confirm each date against the official HMRC route, and for anything complex consult a qualified adviser. (gov.uk; 2026/27.)
It runs entirely in your browser, stores nothing on our servers, and builds your calendar file on your own device. The only time anything reaches us is if you choose "Email me my dates". Read how we keep every figure dated and sourced on our methodology page.
Common questions
What are the tax deadlines when you leave the UK?
They depend on your circumstances and the tax year you left. The main ones: tell HMRC with a P85 (or via a Self Assessment return); if in Self Assessment, register by 5 October, file on paper by 31 October or online by 31 January, and pay by 31 January; report a UK property sale within 60 days of completion; pay voluntary NI within 6 years (gov.uk; 2026/27).
What is the Self Assessment deadline if I'm non-resident and leaving the UK?
For the tax year you leave (ending year Y): register by 5 October Y, file a paper return by 31 October Y, or file online by 31 January Y+1, and pay any tax due by 31 January Y+1. The SA109 residence pages can't use HMRC's free online service, so paper or commercial software only (gov.uk, “Self Assessment deadlines”; “Tax if you leave the UK”; 2026/27).
What is the 60-day NRCGT deadline?
If you're non-resident and sell UK land or property, you must report and pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of the completion date — and you must report even if there's no tax to pay or you made a loss (completions on or after 27 October 2021). The gain also goes on your Self Assessment return (gov.uk, “CGT for non-residents: UK residential property”; 2026/27).
How do I add my UK tax deadlines to my calendar?
Enter your leaving date and circumstances, and this free tracker builds your dated list, then exports a .ics calendar file that imports into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook in one go — with an optional reminder a set number of days before each date. The file is built in your browser; nothing is sent to us.
Is there a deadline to claim a tax refund after leaving the UK?
There's no fixed deadline to file a P85, but a refund of overpaid Income Tax is generally claimable for up to 4 years after the end of the tax year — so the practical backstop is 5 April four years on. Claim sooner rather than later; you need P45 Parts 2 and 3. Confirm the limit with HMRC (gov.uk P85 guidance; HMRC repayment time limits; 2026/27).
Are your tools free, and do they store my data?
Yes, free — no gate, no paywall, no upsell. The tracker runs entirely in your browser and builds your calendar file on your device; no personal data is stored on our servers (your last inputs may be saved locally on your own device only). The only network call is the optional “email me my dates” form. (Last reviewed: May 2026.)