Practical, plain-English guidance for clerks, RFOs and councillors, checked against the Practitioners’ Guide 2026/27.
Every deadline from 31 March to 30 September 2027, and when to start each step.
How to count the 30 working days, the earliest and latest dates, and the mistakes to avoid.
The changes that affect the 2026/27 year end, in plain English.
Six questions your council should be able to answer yes to before the year-end audit.
Which costs now belong in box 6, and how to restate last year’s figure.
How to tell which form your council uses, and what certifying exemption really means.
Which changes need explaining, how much detail to give, and how to avoid follow-up questions.
When to change, what council needs to do, and how to make the handover smooth.
Who does what, when, and why councils need both.
What to gather before the year-end audit, how to name it, and how to send it.