Taxation (UK) · The time limits for the submission of information, claims and payment of tax, including payments on account

Claims, Elections and Record Keeping Time Limits in TX-UK

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Time limits tell you how long you have to make a claim or election, amend a return, or keep records, and how long HMRC has to open an enquiry. For on-time returns, the key periods are 12 months to amend, 12 months for HMRC to enquire, and 5 or 6 years of records.

Understand Claims, Elections and Record Keeping Time Limits

Tax law gives everyone fixed windows. Taxpayers must make claims and elections, correct their returns and keep records within set periods. HMRC also has set periods in which it can check a return. Miss a window and the right is usually lost.

Start with the return. An individual's online self-assessment return is due by 31 January after the tax year. A company's return is normally due 12 months after the end of its accounting period. If it is later, the deadline is 3 months after the notice to deliver a return is issued. Everything else is measured from these dates, or from the date you actually filed.

Now the two 12-month rules. A taxpayer can amend a return within 12 months of the filing deadline. HMRC can open an enquiry within 12 months of the date the return was actually filed, if it was filed on time. The first is measured from the deadline. The second is measured from the filing date. Students swap them all the time.

Then records. Individuals with business or property income must keep records for 5 years after the 31 January filing deadline. Other individuals keep them for 1 year after that deadline. Companies keep records for 6 years from the end of the accounting period.

Many claims and elections have their own time limits. The 4-year period applies to claims for overpaid tax (overpayment relief). For an individual it runs from the end of the tax year. For a company it runs from the end of the accounting period. Other claims and elections have their own stated limits, so do not apply the 4-year period to them by default. Always check whether the question names a special rule before you use a general one.

Key rules to remember

Amending a return (individual): Deadline = 12 months after the filing deadline (31 January following the tax year); Measured from the filing deadline, not the date you actually filed.
Amending a return (company): Deadline = 12 months after the filing deadline (normally 12 months after the period end, or if later, 3 months after the notice to deliver a return is issued); Normally this means up to 24 months after the end of the accounting period. It is later if the filing deadline is extended because the notice was issued late.
HMRC enquiry window (return filed on time): 12 months from the actual filing date; Applies to individuals and companies. HMRC need not give a reason.
HMRC enquiry window (return filed late): Individuals: the next quarter day (31 Jan, 30 Apr, 31 Jul, 31 Oct) after the first anniversary of filing. Companies: 12 months after the end of the calendar quarter (31 Mar, 30 Jun, 30 Sep, 31 Dec) in which the return was filed; The quarter-day rule applies to individuals only. Companies use the end of the quarter in which they filed, plus 12 months. Both give late filers a slightly longer window.
Record keeping: individuals: Business or property income: 5 years after 31 January filing deadline. Other income: 1 year after that deadline; Counted from the 31 January deadline, not the actual filing date.
Record keeping: companies: 6 years from the end of the accounting period; Counted from the end of the accounting period, not the date the return was filed.
Overpaid tax claim (overpayment relief): Individuals: 4 years from the end of the tax year. Companies: 4 years from the end of the accounting period; This is the limit for overpayment relief claims. Other claims and elections have their own stated limits, so check the question.
Discovery assessment limits: 4 years (no failure), 6 years (careless), 20 years (deliberate), from the end of the tax year; Used when the enquiry window has closed. Studied under HMRC enquiries.

How to solve Claims, Elections and Record Keeping Time Limits questions

Use this routine for any time-limit question. Work out the dates first, then apply the right rule to each date.

1Identify who the taxpayer is: an individual or a company. Then identify the tax year or accounting period.
2Write down the filing deadline. For an individual it is 31 January after the tax year end for an online return. For a company it is 12 months after the period end.
3Note the actual filing date. Was it on or before the deadline?
4Decide what is being asked: amend, enquire, claim, elect or keep records. Pick the rule from the list above.
5Choose the correct start point. Amendments run from the filing deadline. Enquiries run from the actual filing date. Records run from the 31 January deadline or the period end.
6Count the period carefully and write the exact end date.
7State the conclusion in a sentence, for example 'HMRC can open an enquiry until 20 December 2027'. Add the consequence if it is out of time.

Quickest way: Anchor date method

When to use it: Use this in objective test questions where several dates are offered and you must pick the right one quickly.

Underline the key date in the question: filing deadline, actual filing date or period end.
Match the verb: amend means deadline plus 12 months. Enquire means actual filing date plus 12 months. Records means 5 or 6 years, or 1 year for other income.
Add the period and check the day and month. Do not drift into a different year.
Eliminate options that use the wrong anchor date. Two options usually do.

Common mistakes in Claims, Elections and Record Keeping Time Limits

Measuring the 12-month amendment period from the date the return was filed.
Both amendments and enquiries use 12 months, so the anchors get mixed up.
Fix: Amendments run from the filing deadline. Enquiries run from the actual filing date.
Giving HMRC a 12-month enquiry window from the deadline when the taxpayer filed early.
Students assume the deadline is always the start point.
Fix: Use the actual filing date. An early filer's window closes earlier than 12 months after the deadline.
Applying the 5-year record rule to all individuals.
The 5-year rule is the one that is remembered best.
Fix: Only people with business or property income need 5 years. Employment and investment income only needs 1 year after the 31 January deadline.
Counting 5 years from the filing date or the tax year end.
The words 'after filing' are read loosely.
Fix: Count from 31 January following the tax year, which is the filing deadline. Example: 31 January 2027 plus 5 years is 31 January 2032.
Using 6 years for company records but counting from the filing date.
Confusion with the individual rule.
Fix: Count 6 years from the end of the accounting period.
Ignoring the late-return extension to the enquiry window, or applying the quarter-day rule to companies.
Students remember only 'twelve months', or assume individuals and companies follow the same late-filing rule.
Fix: If an individual filed late, extend the window to the next quarter day (31 January, 30 April, 31 July or 31 October) after the first anniversary of filing. If a company filed late, the window ends 12 months after the end of the calendar quarter in which it filed. For example, take a company with a 31 March 2026 year end. Its deadline is 31 March 2027. If it files on 15 May 2027, that is late. The return is filed in the quarter ending 30 June 2027, so the window ends on 30 June 2028.

Worked examples

Example 1

Ravi is self-employed. He files his 2025–26 self-assessment return online on 20 December 2026. State the last date to amend the return, the date HMRC's enquiry window closes, and how long he must keep his business records.

Show the solution

The filing deadline for an online 2025–26 return is 31 January 2027. Ravi filed on time.
Amendment: 12 months from the filing deadline gives 31 January 2028.
Enquiry: 12 months from the actual filing date of 20 December 2026 gives 20 December 2027.
Records: he has business income, so keep records for 5 years after 31 January 2027, which is 31 January 2032.

Answer: Ravi can amend until 31 January 2028. HMRC can open an enquiry until 20 December 2027. He must keep his records until 31 January 2032.

Example 2

Bluebell Ltd has a year ended 31 March 2026. It files its corporation tax return on 15 February 2027. Give the last date to amend the return, the end of HMRC's enquiry window, and the date until which the records must be kept.

Show the solution

The filing deadline is 12 months after the period end, which is 31 March 2027. The return was filed on time.
Amendment: 12 months after the filing deadline gives 31 March 2028.
Enquiry: 12 months after the actual filing date of 15 February 2027 gives 15 February 2028.
Records: 6 years from the end of the accounting period, 31 March 2026, gives 31 March 2032.

Answer: Bluebell Ltd can amend until 31 March 2028. HMRC's enquiry window closes on 15 February 2028. Records must be kept until 31 March 2032.

Exam tips

Write the anchor date next to each answer in constructed-response questions. Marks go for the correct date and for showing where it came from.
In objective tests, check whether the question says 'filed' or 'due'. That single word tells you which rule applies.
Learn the three record periods as a set: 5 years, 1 year and 6 years. Match each to its taxpayer group.
Do not assume one time limit fits every claim. The 4-year period is for overpayment relief. Other claims and elections have their own limits, so use the one the question gives or the one you have learned for that claim.
Do not quote section numbers. State the rule in plain words and give the dates.

Practice questions from The time limits for the submission of information, claims and payment of tax, including payments on account

Claims, Elections and Record Keeping Time Limits: frequently asked questions

How long can I amend a self-assessment return?

You can amend an individual return within 12 months of the filing deadline. For an online 2025–26 return, that deadline is 31 January 2027, so the amendment deadline is 31 January 2028.

What is the HMRC enquiry window for a return filed on time?

HMRC can open an enquiry within 12 months of the date the return was actually filed. This applies to both individuals and companies. HMRC does not need to give a reason.

How long must individuals keep tax records?

If you have business or property income, keep records for 5 years after the 31 January filing deadline. For other individuals, the period is 1 year after that deadline.

How long must a company keep its tax records?

A company must keep records for 6 years from the end of the accounting period they relate to.

What if the return is filed late?

For an individual, HMRC's enquiry window runs to the next quarter day (31 January, 30 April, 31 July or 31 October) after the first anniversary of the actual filing date. For a company, it runs to 12 months after the end of the calendar quarter in which the return was filed. The quarter-day rule does not apply to companies.