Important dates for UK business owners in April 2025
As a UK business owner, staying on top of key dates is crucial to ensure your operations run smoothly and you meet all legal obligations. April 2025 brings important deadlines for tax filings, compliance, and reporting. Beyond the paperwork, it also offers exciting opportunities for marketing and networking through various trade events. In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential dates you need to know and how to make the most of the opportunities available this month to help your business thrive.
1 April: National Minimum Wage increases
If you employ staff, you are legally required to pay them at least the National Living or Minimum Wage. The applicable rate depends on the person’s age and whether they are an apprentice.
Per the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, the following National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from 1 April 2025:
| New hourly rate | Increase (£) | Increase (%) | |
| National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) | £12.21 | £0.77 | 6.7% |
| 18-20 year olds | £10.00 | £1.40 | 16.3% |
| 16-17 year olds | £7.55 | £1.15 | 18.0% |
| Apprentice rate | £7.55 | £1.15 | 18.0% |
| Accommodation offset | £10.66 | £0.67 | 6.7% |
5 April: End of the 2024-25 tax year
The current tax year ends on 5 April 2025. If you file through Self Assessment or prepare annual accounts in line with the financial year, 5 April marks the last day of your 2024-25 accounting period.
Prepare your Self Assessment tax return as soon as possible after the end of the tax year. By doing so, you can budget accordingly and pay your bill in instalments, avoid late filing penalties, and keep your stress levels to a minimum.
This date is also the deadline for registering for HMRC’s payrolling benefits and expenses online service. If you’re an employer, you can tax employees’ benefits and expenses through your payroll and then report to HMRC online rather than using form P11D.
6 April: Start of the 2025-26 tax year
The 2025-26 tax year begins on 6 April 2025 and runs until 5 April 2026.
If you need to file a Self Assessment tax return for the 2024-25 tax year, you can submit it online or by post from 6 April onwards.
Several changes will also take effect from this date, some of which may affect you as a UK business owner or employer.
Changes to employer National Insurance and the Employment Allowance
As announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget, the rate of employer (secondary) Class 1 National Insurance contributions will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025.
Additionally, the Secondary Threshold (the point at which employers start paying NICs on employees’ wages) will decrease from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year. This measure will be in effect from 6 April 2025 until 5 April 2028.
New rates of statutory pay will take effect from 6 April 2025. These changes are as follows:
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will increase from £116.75 to £118.75 per week
- Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental, and Parental Bereavement Pay will increase from £184.03 to £187.18 per week
- Maternity Allowance will also rise to £187.18 per week
The earnings threshold to qualify for SSP or family payments will increase from £123 to £125 per week. However, the threshold for Maternity Allowance will remain at £30 per week.
Changes to Scottish Income Tax
There are no changes to UK Income Tax or the annual Personal Allowance in 2025. However, as announced at the Scottish Budget on 4 December 2024, some minor inflationary adjustments have been made to Scottish Income Tax thresholds for 2025-26. These are shown in the table below, alongside the 2024-25 thresholds for comparison.
| Tax band | 2024-25 taxable income thresholds | 2025-26 taxable income threshold | Tax rate |
| Starter rate | £12,571 to £14,876 | £12,571 to £15,397 | 19% |
| Basic rate | £14,877 to £26,561 | £15,398 to £27,491 | 20% |
| Intermediate rate | £26,562 to £43,662 | £27,492 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher rate | £43,663 to £75,000 | £43,663 to £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced rate | £75,001 to £125,140 | £75,001 to £125,140 | 45% |
| Top rate | Above £125,140 | Above £125,140 | 48% |
Business Asset Disposal Relief and Investors’ Relief – rate increase
The rate of Capital Gains Tax applying to Business Asset Disposal Relief (previously known as Entrepreneurs’ Relief) and Investors’ Relief will increase from 10% to 14% for disposals of certain business assets or company shares made on or after 6 April 2025. The rate will increase again from 14% to 18% for disposals made on or after 6 April 2026.
Parental, sick, and bereavement pay changes
The 2025/26 tax year brings updates to statutory leave pay rates in the UK. Starting from this date, employees taking statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, or bereavement leave will receive an increased payment of £187.18 per week, up from the previous £184.03.
Additionally, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for employees off work due to illness for more than three days will rise from £116.75 to £118.75 per week for eligible workers.
