Self assessment payment deadline

Posted on: March 31st 2026    •    Posted in: Money Advice

You must pay the balance of any tax you owe by 31 January each year.
This is also the date when you may have to pay the first of two ‘payments on account’ towards your next tax bill. The second “payment on account” deadline is 31st July.

Online debit or credit card
You can pay your Self Assessment tax online. HMRC will accept your payment on the date you make it, not the date it reaches their account – even on bank holidays and weekends.

Click here  to go straight to the HMRC self assessment page.

Use your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by the letter ‘K’ as your payment reference.

Bank details for online or telephone banking, CHAPS, Bacs
Your bill will tell you which account to pay in to. If you don’t have a bill, or you’re not sure, use ‘HMRC Cumbernauld’. You’ll need to use your 11-character payment reference when you pay. This is your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by the letter ‘K’.

Account details to use:

Paying at your bank/building society
You can only pay at your branch if you still get paper statements from HMRC and have the paying-in slip HMRC sent you. if you don’t have a paying-in slip, you’ll need to pay by another method. Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ followed by your reference number – this is your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by the letter ‘K’.

By post
HMRC recommends that you pay your Self Assessment tax electronically.
If you do need to pay by post please:

– Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue & Customs only’ followed by your UTR Please allow at least three working days for your payment to reach HMRC.

-Please send your payment to:
HMRC
Direct
BX5 5BD

Further details on Paying HMRC, visit https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill