When England's May bank holidays fall in 2024 and 2025

England has two bank holidays in May: Early May Bank Holiday on the first Monday of the month, and Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday of the month. In 2024, those are May 6 and May 27. In 2025, they fall on May 5 and May 26. These are the only two May bank holidays observed across England; Scotland and Northern Ireland observe different dates for some holidays, but May follows the same calendar.

Bank holidays in England are days when most government offices, courts, and many businesses close. However, unlike a complete national shutdown, banks, post offices, shops, and services operate on a reduced or holiday schedule depending on the business. The closure is not uniform — what closes and what stays open depends on the type of organisation and whether they have chosen to observe the holiday.

If you are waiting for a refund, payment, or government service, a May bank holiday can delay processing by one business day. Money transfers that would normally clear on a Monday may not process until Tuesday if Monday is a bank holiday. Tax refunds, insurance payouts, and benefit payments follow the banking calendar, not a separate government calendar.

Key Takeaways

  • England's May bank holidays are the first Monday (Early May Bank Holiday) and the last Monday (Spring Bank Holiday) of the month.
  • Most government offices and courts close on bank holidays, but banks, post offices, and many shops stay open with reduced hours or normal hours depending on the business.
  • Money transfers and refunds scheduled to process on a bank holiday will typically clear the next business day instead.
  • If you are tracking a refund or payment expected around a May bank holiday, add one business day to your timeline.

Which organisations close on May bank holidays

Government offices, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and local council offices, close on bank holidays. If you need to contact them or submit documents, you will need to do so on a working day. Online services like the HMRC portal and the Universal Credit journal remain accessible 24/7, but phone lines and in-person appointments are not available.

Courts close on bank holidays, which affects anyone with a scheduled hearing or filing deadline. If a deadline falls on a bank holiday, it typically rolls forward to the next working day. Check the specific court's website or contact them directly if your deadline is near a May bank holiday.

Banks themselves stay open on most bank holidays, though hours may be shorter. Post offices also remain open, though hours vary by location and some smaller branches may close. Supermarkets and most retail shops stay open with normal or extended hours. The key difference is that banking system processing — the movement of money between accounts — does not happen on bank holidays, even if the physical branch is open.

How May bank holidays affect refund timelines

Tax refunds from HMRC, insurance refunds, and business refunds all depend on the banking system to move money. If a refund is scheduled to process on a bank holiday, it will not clear until the next working day. This means if your refund was supposed to arrive on Monday, May 6, it will arrive on Tuesday, May 7 instead.

Refunds issued by cheque are not affected by bank holidays in the same way — the cheque is posted regardless — but clearing the cheque through your bank will still follow the banking calendar. A cheque posted on a Friday before a Monday bank holiday will not clear until Wednesday at the earliest.

If you are tracking a refund and the expected date falls on or immediately after a May bank holiday, assume an extra one or two business days. This is especially true for refunds that depend on inter-bank transfers, such as overpaid tax or insurance claims paid by direct transfer.

Benefit payments and bank holidays

Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and other benefits paid by the DWP are usually paid on a set day each week or month. If that payment day falls on a bank holiday, the payment is typically made on the last working day before the holiday instead. This means you receive the money earlier, not later.

Check your payment schedule in your Universal Credit journal or your DWP letter to see which day you are paid. If that day is a bank holiday, look for the payment to arrive the day before. Some claimants are paid weekly, others fortnightly or monthly, so the effect of a bank holiday depends on your individual schedule.

If you are expecting a one-off payment — such as a hardship payment or a back payment of benefits — contact the DWP to confirm the payment date. Bank holidays can shift the timing, and knowing in advance prevents confusion.

What to do if your refund or payment is delayed around a May bank holiday

If your refund or payment was due on a May bank holiday and has not arrived by the next working day, wait until the end of that working day before contacting the issuer. Payments often process overnight, and a delay of a few hours is normal. If it is still missing after two working days past the holiday, contact the organisation that issued the refund.

For tax refunds, contact HMRC through the online portal or by phone. Have your National Insurance number and the reference number from your tax return ready. For insurance refunds, contact the insurance company's claims department. For benefit payments, log into your Universal Credit account or call the DWP helpline.

If you are waiting for a cheque, remember that cheques take three to five working days to clear after they are deposited, regardless of bank holidays. A cheque posted before a bank holiday will clear after the holiday, not before.

Planning around May bank holidays for government services

If you need to contact a government office, submit a form, or attend an appointment, plan to do so on a working day away from the May bank holidays. HMRC, DWP, and local councils all have reduced capacity around bank holidays, and phone lines may have longer wait times on the days immediately before and after.

For time-sensitive matters — such as appealing a tax decision or reporting a change in circumstances — submit your request at least two working days before a bank holiday. This gives the office time to process it before the closure and reduces the risk of your deadline being missed.

Online submissions through HMRC's portal, the Universal Credit journal, and most council websites are not affected by bank holidays. You can submit forms and documents at any time, and they will be processed on the next working day after the holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my tax refund arrive on the May bank holiday itself?

No. If your refund was scheduled to process on a bank holiday, it will clear on the next working day instead. The banking system does not process transfers on bank holidays, even if your bank branch is physically open.

Do I get paid early if my benefit payment day is a bank holiday?

Usually yes. Most DWP payments scheduled for a bank holiday are paid on the last working day before the holiday. Check your payment schedule in your Universal Credit journal or your benefit letter to confirm your specific payment date.

Can I submit a tax return or appeal on a bank holiday?

You can submit online through the HMRC portal at any time, including bank holidays. The submission will be received and processed on the next working day. Phone lines and in-person services are not available on bank holidays.

How long does a cheque take to clear if it is posted before a May bank holiday?

A cheque posted before a bank holiday will clear three to five working days after you deposit it, counted from the next working day after the holiday. So a cheque posted on Friday before a Monday bank holiday will clear by Thursday or Friday of the following week.

What if my deadline for submitting something to HMRC falls on a bank holiday?

Deadlines that fall on a bank holiday are usually extended to the next working day. Contact HMRC to confirm, but in most cases you have until the day after the bank holiday to submit documents or forms.