Tribunal Deadline Calculator

Calculate your legal deadlines for ACAS and Employment Tribunal claims

This is usually your last day of employment or the date a discriminatory act occurred.

Common Questions

What is the "primary limitation period"?

The primary limitation period for most employment claims (unfair dismissal, discrimination, deduction from wages) is 3 months less one day. Missing this deadline often means you lose your right to sue entirely. Always act as soon as possible.

What is ACAS Early Conciliation?

Before you can file a claim at an Employment Tribunal, you MUST notify ACAS. This is a free service that helps resolve disputes without going to court. Notifying ACAS "stops the clock" on your 3-month deadline while conciliation is ongoing.

Does the deadline change if I'm on notice?

The deadline usually runs from your "Effective Date of Termination" (EDT). If you are paid in lieu of notice (PILON), the clock usually starts the day your employment actually ends, not at the end of the notice period you would have served.

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Enter the date of your incident to see your critical legal deadlines.

Critical Information

  • Rule: 3 months minus 1 day
  • First step: Contact ACAS
  • ACAS Phone: 0300 123 1100
  • Online form: acas.org.uk

How to Calculate Your Employment Tribunal Deadline

In UK employment law, time is of the essence. The most critical rule to remember is the "three months less one day" limitation period. This period starts from the date of the act you are complaining about — such as the date you were dismissed or the date an incident of discrimination occurred.

For example, if the last day of your employment was 15th January, you must notify ACAS of your intention to claim by midnight on 14th April. If you miss this window, even by a few minutes, the Employment Tribunal will almost certainly refuse to hear your case, regardless of how strong your evidence is.

The Role of ACAS Early Conciliation

It is now a legal requirement in most cases to go through ACAS Early Conciliation before submitting an ET1 form to the Tribunal. When you contact ACAS, the limitation period is "paused". Once conciliation ends and you receive an Early Conciliation Certificate, the clock starts ticking again. You will then have at least one month from the date you received the certificate to file your actual claim.

Because these dates can be complex to calculate—especially when months have different numbers of days—it is always safer to start the ACAS process as early as possible. Don't wait until the final week.