Employment Tribunal Time Limit Checker
Check your ET deadline instantly. Missing the time limit means the tribunal will almost certainly reject your claim.
Most Employment Tribunal claims must be submitted within 3 months minus 1 day of the act you are complaining about — for example the date you were dismissed, the date of the last discriminatory act, or the date your employer made an unlawful deduction from your wages.
Before you can submit an ET1 claim form, you must first contact ACAS for Early Conciliation. This is mandatory and pauses your deadline clock for the duration of conciliation. The calculator accounts for any ACAS extension to your deadline.
A small number of claim types — including statutory redundancy pay and equal pay — have a 6-month limit. Tribunals have very limited discretion to extend time limits, so acting quickly is essential.
Your Claim
Early Conciliation is mandatory before filing most ET claims. Contacting ACAS pauses your deadline clock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Employment Tribunal time limit?
Most ET claims must be submitted within 3 months minus 1 day of the act you are complaining about. For example, if you were dismissed on 1 January, your deadline is 30 March. Statutory redundancy pay and equal pay claims have a 6-month limit.
Does contacting ACAS extend my deadline?
Yes. Once you notify ACAS for Early Conciliation, your deadline clock is paused. When conciliation ends, you receive at least one month from the date of your ACAS certificate to file your claim — regardless of where you were in your original deadline. The calculator accounts for this extension.
Can a tribunal extend the time limit?
Tribunals have very limited discretion to extend the time limit. For unfair dismissal claims, the test is whether it was "not reasonably practicable" to file in time. For discrimination claims, the test is whether it is "just and equitable" to allow a late claim. Extensions are granted rarely and should not be relied upon.
Do I need a solicitor to make an ET claim?
No. You can represent yourself at an Employment Tribunal. However, for complex claims or where significant compensation is at stake, specialist advice can significantly improve your chances of success.
Is there a fee to file an ET claim?
No. Employment Tribunal fees were abolished in 2017 and there is currently no charge to submit an ET1 claim form.