Key business dates for 2024

January

18: Get to Know Your Customers Day

One for the marketing calendar – this is held on the third Thursday of January, April, July and October.

This date is a prompt to chat to your customers and get to know them. You could hold an event, a competition or offer a discount, but the main aim is to connect with your consumers on a deeper level. You never know what you might learn!

31: Deadline for submitting online Self Assessments

If you need to complete a Self Assessment for the 2022/23 tax year, this is the last day to submit your tax return online.

Even though you have until the end of January to do this, we recommend getting it done earlier to avoid unnecessary stress and reduce the risk of missing the deadline.

31: Deadline for first Self Assessment payments on account

Most people who submit Self Assessments need to make advance payments towards their Income Tax. Made twice a year, each payment is half of your previous year’s tax bill.

So on 31 January 2024, you’ll make a payment on account towards your 2023/24 Income Tax. The amount you pay will be 50% of your 2022/23 tax bill.

31: Deadline for Self Assessment balancing payments

As payments on account are based on your previous year’s taxes, your advance payments might not cover your full tax bill.

If you need to make up the difference for 2022/23, you’ll need to make a balancing payment by midnight on 31 January 2024.

February

5-11: National Apprenticeship Week

This week-long event highlights the exceptional work being done by employers and apprentices across the country. Whatever industry you’re in, there will be plenty of events and different ways to get involved.

And if you’re considering employing an apprentice, our guide offers lots of useful insights – from the different types of apprenticeships to the support that’s available to your business.

17: Random Act of Kindness Day

February can be a gloomy month, but there’s nothing like a random act of kindness to lift someone’s spirits.

Check out our list of ideas that could help you mark the occasion.

March

1: Employee Appreciation Day

On the first Friday of March, many employers around the world go the extra mile to celebrate the people who work for them.

There are so many ways to say thank you to your staff – from team lunches to an afternoon off. And for businesses on a tight budget, even small gestures can go a long way. Think personalised thank you cards or a meaningful shout out on Slack.

13 (or around then): Spring Statement

Twice a year, the Treasury makes a budget statement to Parliament. The Spring Statement usually includes an update on the UK's economy and progress made since the Autumn Budget.

It's important to be aware of the Spring Statement as it may include key changes that could affect you or your business.

Please note: this date isn't set in stone until it's been confirmed by the Government. It took place on 15 March 2023, 23 March 2022, 3 March 2021 and 11 March 2020.

April

1: National Minimum Wage rates increase

Every UK business is legally required to pay their employees at least the National Minimum Wage. The rate you must pay someone depends on their age and whether they’re an apprentice, and these rates increase every year to reflect living costs.

The government has committed to increasing the National Minimum Wage to £11.44 an hour for workers over 21 from 1 April 2024.

Remember – if you employ anyone, regardless of whether they’re full-time, part-time or temporary, you’re likely to need employers' liability insurance.

5: Deadline for registering for payrolling benefits

Payrolling is an alternative to reporting employee benefits using P11D forms. If you want to payroll your employees’ benefits, you must register with HMRC before the start of the tax year – so to payroll in 2024/25, you’ll need to register by 6 April 2024.

6: Start of the new tax year

The start of a new tax year often means changes to many different tax rates, thresholds and allowances.

This April we'll see the abolition of Class 2 National Insurance Contributions, Class 4 National Insurance and National Living Wage increasing.

This is a good time to get your documents and receipts from the last financial year organised and start thinking about upcoming reporting deadlines.

May

31: P60 deadline

A P60 summarises an employee’s total pay and deductions for the tax year. This is the deadline for issuing P60s for the 2023/24 tax year.

You’ll need to send one to anyone working for your business on April 5 2024. If someone left the company before this date, they don’t need a P60 as you should have issued them a P45 instead.

If you run a limited company and pay yourself a salary, you’ll need to issue yourself a P60. You don’t need to issue yourself a P60 if you work as a sole trader.

June

21: Start of the summer sale period

While you can organise a sale any time you like, this is a good benchmark for when to start your summer sale.

The summer sale period traditionally starts on this date as it gives retailers plenty of time to use discounts to clear out their stock and make room for autumn and winter products.

28: Insurance Awareness Day

This is a good time to review your business insurance and check that your covers, limits and excess suit your current needs.

July

6: Submit P11D/P11D(b) forms

A P11D form tells HMRC what expenses and benefits you've given your employees over the year, helping HMRC calculate how much tax and National Insurance is due.

If your business gave employees benefits in the 2023/24 tax year, you'll need to submit your forms by this date.

22: Deadline for paying Class 1A National Insurance contributions

After reporting expenses and benefits given to employees in 2023/24, you'll need to pay Class 1A National Insurance contributions on those benefits.

However you pay, you'll need to make sure you leave enough time for the money to reach HMRC – and if you want to pay by cheque, you'll need to post it early enough that it arrives before 19 July.

31: Deadline for second Self Assessment payments on account

You have until midnight to make your second advance payment towards your 2023/24 tax bill.

October

5: Deadline for registering for Self Assessments

You need to register for tax returns by 5 October in your business' second tax year. So if you set up a business between 6 April 2023 and 5 April 2024, you’ll need to register by 5 October 2024.

You can register by post, but it’s easier to do it online through your business tax account.

31: Deadline for submitting paper Self Assessments

Although most businesses prefer to submit their tax returns online, you can do it by post. Keep in mind the earlier deadline – for the 2023/24 tax year, the cut-off date is October 31 2024.

31 (or around then): Autumn Budget

The second of the Treasury’s budget statements to Parliament, the Autumn Budget sets out the Government's spending plans for the near future. It can include things like tax and business rate changes, spending cuts or inflation predictions.

Just like the Spring Statement, it's likely that the announced budgets and adjustments will affect you in one way or another, so it’s worth tuning in and following the news to find out what the Autumn Budget could mean for small businesses.

Please note: like the Spring Statement, the date for the Autumn Budget is open to change. It usually takes place at the end of October or the start of November.

November

29: Black Friday

Black Friday is one of the biggest days for retailers, with many businesses offering deals and discounts to kick off the Christmas shopping season.

While Black Friday was traditionally held in physical retail stores, it's become common for online retailers to get involved as well.

30: Small Business Saturday

A day to celebrate small business success and encourage customers to support their community by shopping locally. You could mark the day by offering discounts, hosting an event or collaborating with other businesses in your area.

Find different tools, resources and ideas for getting involved on the Small Business Saturday UK website.

December

2: Cyber Monday

Held the Monday after Black Friday, Cyber Monday is usually a time for online retailers to offer discounts to their customers.

26: Boxing Day sales

Over the last few years, the post-Christmas sale period has been starting increasingly early – with many online brands launching their sales on Christmas Day or sooner.

But Boxing Day still remains a key date for in-person sales. UK shoppers spent an estimated £3.8 billion on Boxing Day 2022, with a 50% rise in footfall compared to the year before.