How to Pay Your Self Assessment Tax Bill

Payment Methods

HMRC accepts several ways to pay your Self Assessment bill:^[1]

Method	Processing Time
Online banking / Faster Payments	Same or next day
Debit card online	Same or next day
Direct Debit	3 working days
CHAPS	Same day
Bank or building society (in person)	Same day
Cheque by post	Allow 5 working days

Fastest option: Online banking or Faster Payments is the quickest and most reliable method. You’ll need HMRC’s bank details and your UTR number as the payment reference.

Your Payment Reference

Always use your 10-digit UTR number followed by the letter K as your payment reference (e.g. 1234567890K). Without the correct reference, HMRC may not allocate your payment.^[1]

Payment Deadlines

The key Self Assessment payment dates are:^[2]

Date	What’s Due
31 January	Balancing payment for previous tax year + first payment on account for current year
31 July	Second payment on account for current year

Understanding Your Bill

Once you file your tax return online, your Self Assessment statement may include:^[3]

Balancing payment — the difference between tax owed and payments on account already made
Payments on account — advance payments towards next year’s bill (each equal to 50% of previous year’s tax)
Class 2 National Insurance — if you’re self-employed
Class 4 National Insurance — if you’re self-employed
Student loan repayments — if applicable

If You Can’t Pay on Time

If you’re struggling to pay, don’t ignore it. HMRC charges interest on late payments and may add penalties. Your options include:^[1]

Time to Pay arrangement — spread payments over up to 12 months
Budget Payment Plan — make regular payments throughout the year

Credit Cards

HMRC no longer accepts personal credit cards for Self Assessment payments. You can use a corporate credit card, but personal credit cards are not accepted.^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to pay my tax bill to HMRC?

Online banking or Faster Payments is the quickest and most reliable method, arriving the same or next day. You need HMRC’s bank details and your 10-digit UTR number followed by the letter K as the payment reference.

When is the Self Assessment payment deadline?

The balancing payment for the previous tax year plus the first payment on account is due by 31 January. The second payment on account is due by 31 July.

Can I pay my tax bill by credit card?

HMRC no longer accepts personal credit cards for Self Assessment payments. You can use a corporate credit card, a debit card, online banking, Direct Debit, or CHAPS.

What should I do if I cannot pay my tax bill on time?

Do not ignore it. Contact HMRC to arrange a Time to Pay plan, which lets you spread payments over up to 12 months. You can also set up a Budget Payment Plan to make regular payments throughout the year towards future bills.

Sources

Pay your Self Assessment tax bill — GOV.UK
Self Assessment tax returns — GOV.UK
Understand your Self Assessment tax bill — GOV.UK
Payment on Account — GOV.UK

How to Pay Your Tax Bill