How to pay your Self Assessment tax bill

Paying your Self Assessment tax bill 

Your Self-Assessment tax bill includes income tax and any Class 4 National Insurance contributions you owe HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) – if not already deducted via the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. 

Self-Assessment tax bill payment deadline 

You must pay your Self-Assessment tax bill by: 

• 31 January – for any tax you owe for the previous tax year (balancing payment) and your first payment on account. 
• 31 July for your second payment on account. 

It is important to clear your tax bill payment into the HMRC account by the deadline, to avoid penalties. 

Self-assessment tax bill payment methods 

You should make payments depending on the time you need to allow for the payments to be processed.  

1. For same or next day processing time 

Payments can be made via: 

     a) Your online bank account 

When using your online or mobile bank account to make payments, you must select the ‘pay by bank account’ option. Consequently, you will be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your Self-Assessment payment. Normally, the payment is instant but sometimes it takes up to 2 hours to show in your account. 

     b) Online or telephone banking (Faster Payments) 

You must have your 11-character payment reference (the 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by the letter ‘K’) to make payments.  

Usually, your bill will tell you which account to pay into. However, if you do not have a bill, or are unsure of the account, use HMRC Cumbernauld. 

 These are the account details to use when making payments: 

 However, if your account is overseas, use these details: 

     c) CHAPS 

Use these account details: 

 If your account is overseas, use these details: 

     d) Debit or corporate credit card online 

When you use this payment method, you must use your 11-character payment reference.  It is crucial to remember that using a corporate credit card or a corporate debit card will incur a non-refundable fee.  

     e) Your bank or building society 

You can only pay at your branch by cash or cheque if you both: still get paper statements from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and have the paying-in slip HMRC sent you. 

You must write your 11-character payment reference on the back of the cheque and make it payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’. 

2. For three working days processing time 

You can make payments through: 

     a) Bacs using these bank account details: 

 But, if your account is overseas, use these details: 

     b) Direct Debit if you set one up with HMRC before. 

     c) A cheque through the post 

Write your 11-character payment reference on the back of the cheque and make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’. You should also include the payslip HMRC sent you (if you still get paper statements) to the cheque when sending. Remember not to fold the payslip or cheque or fasten them together. 

Use this address to send:  

HMRC 

Direct 

BX5 5BD 

 Note: Do not include a street name, city name or PO box with this address. 

3. For five working days processing time 

You must set up a Direct Debit through your HMRC online account to make single payments for 31 January. You will also need to use your 11-character payment reference when making payments. If you also need to make a payment on account, you must set up another Direct Debit. 

Note: You will need to set up single payments each time you pay by Direct Debit. 

Are you having problems with Self-Assessment payment services? 

Often, payment services to HMRC may be slow during busy times. However, if the problem persists, you can check the availability and any issues affecting the Self-Assessment payment here. 

Feel free to contact Spondoo Accountants for all your Self-Assessment needs.