Change the UK tax year to start on the 1st of January
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April, a relic of 1752 when Britain switched calendars and “lost” 11 days. That historical quirk made sense then - but today, it’s a barrier to simplicity and global alignment. Let's modernise our system for ease and alignment with over 120 other countries.
Signatures
54
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 54/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 54/100,000
- 15 JAN 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Aidan Kirkpatrick
Background
• Global Standard: Over 120 countries start their tax year on 1 January, including the USA, Canada, and most of Europe.
• Simplification: Aligning with the calendar year would make payroll, budgeting, and reporting easier for businesses and individuals.
• International Competitiveness: UK companies trading globally face unnecessary complexity because our tax year doesn’t match international norms.
• Easier financial planning.
• Reduced accounting costs.
• Fewer errors and compliance headaches.