Payments on account

When they are due

Payments on account are due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July. Anything still owed after them is the balancing payment, due by midnight on 31 January after the end of the tax year.

For the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027): the payments on account are due by 31 January 2027 and 31 July 2027, and any balancing payment by 31 January 2028. On 31 January 2028 the first payment on account towards 2027/28 is due as well, if they apply to you.

When you do not have to make them

You do not have to make payments on account if your last Self Assessment bill was below a set amount, or if most of last year's tax was already paid another way, for example through your tax code. GOV.UK gives the exact tests on its payments on account page.

Reducing them

If you know your tax will be lower than last year, you can ask HMRC to reduce your payments on account, online through your account or by post with form SA303. If you reduce them too far and your bill turns out higher, you are charged interest on the difference.

Common mistakes

• Being caught out the first January after a profitable year, when the balancing payment and the first payment on account are due together.
• Reducing payments on account without a reason to expect a lower bill, then paying interest on the shortfall.
• Forgetting the 31 July payment, which has no return attached to it.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Understand your Self Assessment tax bill: payments on account