UK life admin, 2026–27

The UK life-admin year: the 43 dates a household carries

A UK household carries about 43 dates a year across 9 areas: the MOT and car tax, insurance renewals, Self Assessment on 31 January, the ISA allowance on 5 April, check-ups, school applications, passports and the GHIC. The national ones for 2026–27 are below, as a calendar file and a PDF.

Last updated 26 Sep 2026 · Neos Technologies Ltd

Who this is for: anyone in the UK who runs a household and would rather know about a renewal a few weeks before it arrives than on the morning.

Who it is not for: anyone after a savings figure — this page has none — or residents of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland looking for school admission dates, which differ; the England-only dates are labelled.

DateWhatWho it is for
Thu, 1 October 2026Free NHS flu vaccine available to most eligible people (NHS)Eligible groups
Sat, 31 October 2026Secondary school applications close (England) (GOV.UK)Parents, England
Sat, 31 October 2026Self Assessment paper return deadline (2025–26) (GOV.UK)Paper filers
Sat, 7 November 2026Making Tax Digital quarterly update due (GOV.UK)Sole traders and landlords in MTD
Fri, 15 January 2027Primary school applications close (England) (GOV.UK)Parents, England
Sun, 31 January 2027Self Assessment online return and payment due (2025–26) (GOV.UK)Self Assessment
Sun, 7 February 2027Making Tax Digital quarterly update due (GOV.UK)Sole traders and landlords in MTD
Mon, 1 March 2027Secondary school offers (England) (GOV.UK)Parents, England
Mon, 5 April 2027Last day of the tax year: ISA allowance ends (GOV.UK)Savers
Fri, 16 April 2027Primary school offers (England) (GOV.UK)Parents, England
Fri, 7 May 2027Making Tax Digital quarterly update due (GOV.UK)Sole traders and landlords in MTD
Sat, 31 July 2027Second Self Assessment payment on account (2026–27) (GOV.UK)Anyone making payments on account

Download the national dates: calendar file (.ics) for Google, Outlook or Apple Calendar, or PDF to print. No account, no email address. For your own dates — the MOT, the renewals, the birthdays — use the free life-admin year: it asks the questions below and writes your own calendar file and PDF, in your browser.

The whole checklist, area by area

This is the list Radar’s own Life setup asks, 43 dates in 9 areas. Where a date follows a UK rule, the rule is given with its source; the rest are your own dates, and the row says where to find them.

Car & getting around

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Car MOTEvery year30 days aheadA car’s first MOT is due on the third anniversary of its registration, then every year. You can have it up to a month (minus a day) early and keep the same renewal date. (GOV.UK)
Renew car insuranceEvery year30 days aheadFind the car insurance renewal date.
Car tax dueEvery year14 days aheadCheck when the car tax is due.
Car serviceEvery year21 days aheadFind out when the car is due a service.
Renew breakdown coverEvery year21 days aheadFind the breakdown cover renewal date.
Renew driving licence photocardEvery ten years60 days aheadA photocard licence must be renewed every 10 years. (GOV.UK)

Home

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Renew home insuranceEvery year30 days aheadFind the home insurance renewal date.
Boiler serviceEvery year21 days aheadFind out when the boiler was last serviced.
Test smoke and CO alarmsEvery monthOn the dayYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Mortgage deal or tenancy endsOnce180 days aheadFind the end date of the mortgage deal or tenancy.
Energy tariff ends: compare dealsOnce30 days aheadFind the energy tariff end date.
Broadband contract ends: compare dealsOnce30 days aheadFind the broadband contract end date.
Clear the guttersEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Money & bills

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Self Assessment tax return deadlineEvery year60 days aheadThe online return and the tax are due by 31 January. For 2025–26 that is 31 January 2027. (GOV.UK)
TV Licence renewalEvery year21 days aheadFind the TV Licence renewal date.
Annual streaming plan renewsEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Use this year’s ISA allowanceEvery year30 days aheadThe ISA allowance is £20,000 a tax year, and the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. (GOV.UK)
Phone contract ends: check for a better dealOnce30 days aheadFind the phone contract end date.
Review pension, savings and billsEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Health

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Dental check-upEvery six months21 days aheadAsk the dentist when my next check-up is due.
Eye testEvery two years21 days aheadFind out when my last eye test was.
Order repeat prescriptionEvery monthOn the dayYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Book seasonal vaccinationEvery year14 days aheadMost people eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine can have it from 1 October 2026; some, including anyone pregnant, from 1 September. (NHS)
Annual health checkEvery year21 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Family & friends

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Mum’s birthdayEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Wedding anniversaryEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
School trip form and payment dueOnce7 days aheadIn England, secondary applications close on 31 October and primary on 15 January, with offers on 1 March and 16 April. (GOV.UK)
Care reviewOnce14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Documents & travel

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Renew passport (Sam)Every ten years270 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Renew travel insuranceEvery year21 days aheadFind the travel insurance renewal date.
Renew GHIC cardEvery five years30 days aheadA UK GHIC is free and lasts up to 5 years. You can apply for a new one up to 9 months before it expires — through the NHS, not an unofficial site that charges. (NHS)
Review will and important documentsEvery three years14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Pets

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Dog’s booster vaccinationEvery year14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Flea treatmentEvery monthOn the dayYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Renew pet insuranceEvery year21 days aheadFind the pet insurance renewal date.

Work & career

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Prepare for my reviewEvery year30 days aheadAsk when my next review is.
Use remaining holiday allowanceEvery year90 days aheadFind out when my holiday year ends.
Professional body membershipEvery year30 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
First aid certificateOnce60 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Submit expensesEvery monthOn the dayYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

Study

DateHow oftenRadar reminds youThe rule, or where to find your date
Module 3 examOnce30 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Essay deadlineOnce14 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.
Re-enrol for next yearEvery year30 days aheadYour own date: the letter, the contract or the account it came from.

What Radar does with this

  • Life setup asks: “When is your car’s next MOT due?” It’s on your last MOT certificate, or on gov.uk’s MOT checker by registration. Radar reminds you a month ahead so there’s time to book. Radar reminds you 30 days ahead.
  • Life setup asks: “Do you file a Self Assessment tax return?” The online deadline is 31 January. Radar reminds you two months ahead. Radar reminds you 60 days ahead.
  • Life setup asks: “When does your GHIC or EHIC card expire?” The expiry date is on the front of the card. Radar reminds you 30 days ahead.
  • Life setup asks these a few at a time, in whichever areas you choose, and turns each answer into an item on your Radar that repeats on its own schedule.

Radar reads the calendars, task lists and CRM you connect, and the dates you give it. It writes back only when you press a button, and it never sends anything by itself.

Limitations and status

  • The national dates are for 2026–27 and were read from GOV.UK and the NHS on 26 September 2026. Those pages are the ones to rely on.
  • School admission dates are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ.
  • Everything else on the checklist is your own date. Radar reminds you of the date you give it; it does not look up your MOT, your insurance or your contracts.

Questions

What dates should be on a UK life-admin checklist?

The car (MOT, tax, insurance, licence), the home (insurance, boiler, mortgage or tenancy, energy and broadband contracts), money (Self Assessment, the ISA allowance, renewals), health (dentist, eye test, prescriptions, vaccinations), family, documents (passports, GHIC, travel insurance), pets, work and study — 43 in all.

When is my first MOT due?

On the third anniversary of the car’s registration, then every year. You can have it up to a month (minus a day) early and keep the same renewal date. (GOV.UK)

How often do I renew my driving licence photocard?

Every 10 years. (GOV.UK)

Does the GHIC cost anything?

No. A UK GHIC is free and lasts up to 5 years; apply through the NHS, not an unofficial site that charges. (NHS)

Is there a calendar file I can import?

Yes: the national dates for 2026–27 are a calendar file and a PDF on this page. For your own dates, the free life-admin year writes a calendar file from your answers, in your browser, with no account.

Sources

Written by Neos Technologies Ltd · first published 26 Sep 2026. Radar is made by Neos Technologies Ltd.