October bookkeeping check-in: five small jobs to make tax season easier
If the summer has left you with a few receipts to catch up on, you’re not alone. When you’re busy doing the work, the bookkeeping can easily slip down the list.
October is a useful moment to pause, tidy up the loose ends and make the next few months easier. You don’t need to tackle everything in one sitting. Start with these five small jobs.
1. Put last year’s records in one place
For your 2025–26 Self Assessment return, gather the records covering 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026. Bring together your sales records, bank statements, receipts and any other information relevant to your return.
Keep these separate from the current tax year’s records. If something is missing, make a short list now so you have time to request a statement or find the receipt.
2. Check your bookkeeping against your bank
Does each business transaction have an explanation? Look out for missing receipts, duplicate entries and personal spending that has been recorded as a business cost.
A bank feed is useful, but it still needs checking. If a transaction is unclear, flag it rather than guessing. A little attention now makes the figures much more useful later.
3. Give unpaid invoices some attention
Review what customers owe you, check which invoices are overdue and send a friendly reminder where needed. Then look at the bills you’ll need to pay over the next few weeks.
Profit and available cash are different things. A busy month can still feel tight if customers haven’t paid, so it helps to know both what you’ve earned and what is actually in the bank.
4. Make a plan for your tax bill
If you haven’t prepared your return yet, October gives you time to understand the likely bill and review what you’ve set aside. Your circumstances may also mean payments on account are due, so check the full amount rather than assuming it is just last year’s remaining tax.
The right amount to save depends on your income, expenses and wider tax position. If you’re unsure, ask for help with an estimate rather than relying on a fixed percentage.
5. Check the dates that apply to you
For the 2025–26 Self Assessment tax year, the main dates to check are:
5 October 2026: tell HMRC if you need a return and have not filed before, or were registered but did not need a return for 2024–25.
31 October 2026: the usual deadline for HMRC to receive a paper return.
31 January 2027: the usual online filing deadline and deadline to pay the tax due.
If you’re using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in 2026–27, your second quarterly update is due by 7 November 2026. It includes year-to-date figures, not just the latest three months. This is separate from your 2025–26 tax return.
See HMRC’s Self Assessment deadlines and quarterly update guidance for the full rules. Not sure whether MTD applies? Try the quick MTD checker.
A small routine makes a difference
Once you’ve caught up, put a short bookkeeping slot in your diary each week: save receipts, check transactions and review unpaid invoices. Keeping things moving in small steps is usually easier than facing a pile of paperwork later.
If you’d like a hand getting organised, send Sophie a message. Tell me a little about your business and what you’re finding difficult, and we can work out a sensible next step together.
Written for October 2026. Tax dates and requirements depend on your circumstances; check HMRC guidance or ask for advice about your own position.
