Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 section 959AR

Date for payment of corporation tax: companies other than with relevant accounting periods

Section 959AR sets out the due dates for payment of preliminary tax and the balance of corporation tax for companies other than those with relevant accounting periods, and the consequences of failing to meet preliminary tax requirements.

• Preliminary tax is due 31 days before the end of the accounting period, but no later than the 21st (or 23rd for electronic filers) of the month in which that date falls; for very short accounting periods it is due on the last day of the period.
• The balance of corporation tax is due on or before the specified return date for the accounting period; any later assessment is deemed to have been due on that same date.
• If preliminary tax is not paid, is paid late, or falls short of the lower of 90% of the current year liability or 100% of the prior year liability (small companies) or 90% of the current year liability (other companies), all tax for the period is deemed due on the preliminary tax due date.
• A top-up payment within one month (for late capital gains or financial asset revaluations) or within six months (for interest limitation disallowable amounts, for periods from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027) can rescue a company that would otherwise fail the 90% test.