Timetable for the National Fraud Initiative 2026-27 (HTML)
Updated 30 March 2026
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| Activity | Who | How | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue DRAFT data specifications for each data set | NFI Team (PSFA) | Draft data specifications will be available on the NFI GOV.UK web page. | By Wednesday 1 April 2026 |
| Make the 2026/27 national exercise web application available | NFI Team (PSFA) | The web application will be made available for 2026/27 access to check user accounts, complete Privacy Notice and Security Policy Compliance. | From Friday 3 July 2026 |
| Check the list of expected data sets is accurate | NFI Key Contact | Key Contacts will log in to the 2026/27 web application Data File Upload (DFU) and check the list of expected datasets is accurate and advise us of any changes to the list. | Between Monday 3 August and Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Issue the FINAL data specifications for each data set | NFI Team (PSFA) | Final data specifications will be available on the NFI GOV.UK web page. | By 30 June 2026 |
| Issue the instructions to bodies participating in NFI 2026/27 | NFI Team (PSFA) | An email containing a link to the NFI 2026/27 instructions on the NFI GOV.UK web page will be sent to Senior Responsible Officers and Key Contacts. | From Monday 10 August 2026 |
| Check the list of expected data sets is accurate | NFI Key Contact | Key Contacts will log in to the 2026/27 web application Data File Upload (DFU) and check the list of expected datasets is accurate and advise us of any changes to the list. | Between Monday 10 August and Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Ensure the person uploading data has a web application account | NFI Key Contact | Key Contacts should ensure the person responsible for uploading data has a user account on the web application. | By Friday 28 August 2026, and as and when future changes occur |
| Final completion of the 2026/27 privacy notice compliance declaration in the web application | NFI Key Contact | Key Contacts should ensure the privacy notice compliance declaration is completed. | By Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Extract data from systems in accordance with the data specifications and upload data to the NFI web application | NFI Key Contact / User (data upload) | Key Contacts should ensure that data is extracted from systems as at 30 September 2026 (unless otherwise stated in the data specification) and uploaded to the web application 2026/27 DFU as soon as quality checks have been completed. The database for 2026/27 will close on Wednesday 4 November 2026, this means to allow sufficient time for your data to be processed and data quality checked prior to the closure of the database, data will actually need to be submitted by Wednesday 21 October 2026. Late data, or data that does not adequately meet specified data quality criteria may not be included in the first run of matching. |
Data must be uploaded between Wednesday 30 September 2026* and Wednesday 21 October 2026 *** Database closes on Wednesday 4 November 2026. |
| Cut off for the main 2026/27 NFI release | NFI Key Contact/Senior responsible Officer | If data is not received and processed by close of business on Wednesday 21 October 2026 it may be classed as late and a failure to fully meet your statutory duty.** | 5pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026*** |
| Set up/review accounts for those reviewing matches | NFI Key Contact | Key Contacts should ensure user accounts are set up on the web application for those in their organisation responsible for reviewing matches. | By Tuesday 1 December 2026 and as and when future changes occur |
| The 2026/27 exercise matches are available | NFI Team (PSFA) | An email will be sent to Senior Responsible Officers and Key Contacts informing them that the matches are available. | By Friday 18 December 2026 ** |
*A series of reminders will be issued to Key Contacts from Thursday 8 October 2026. If data has not been received, or we have not been notified of a delay, by 14 October 2026 reminders will be copied to Senior Responsible Officers i.e. 2 weeks after the submission date.
**Under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (England), Part 2A of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, Part 3A of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004, Articles 4A to 4G of the Audit and Accountability (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
***Failure to submit all of your required data promptly and of acceptable quality may result in some datasets being excluded from the matching process for the 2026/27 results release. Data should still be submitted for a later supplementary match release.
**There may be subsequent match releases should data not be provided by the required deadline.