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Payments on Account Planner

See exactly what you'll owe HMRC each 31 January and 31 July, and the monthly amount to put aside so payments on account never turn into a tax debt.

In short: What are payments on account?

Advance payments towards your next Self Assessment bill, including Class 4 National Insurance. Each is half of the tax you owed last year, due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July.

Last reviewed against 1 official source.

Try an example:

Your Self Assessment bills

Due next 31 January

£6,000

Set aside about £834 a month to cover it and next July

  1. 31 Jan 20261st payment on account for 2025–26£3,000
  2. 31 Jul 20262nd payment on account for 2025–26£3,000
  3. 31 Jan 2027Balancing payment for 2025–26£2,000
  4. 31 Jan 20271st payment on account for 2026–27£4,000
  5. 31 Jul 20272nd payment on account for 2026–27£4,000

Your payment dates

The largest single payment is £4,000, due in January.

The link holds your numbers in the address. Nothing is sent to us.

How payments on account work

  1. Each payment on account is half of last year's Self Assessment bill.
  2. They're due on 31 January (during the tax year) and 31 July (after it).
  3. The following 31 January you pay any balancing payment plus the first payment on account for the next year.

Worked example (from GOV.UK)

Your 2023 to 2024 bill is £3,000. You paid £900 on 31 January 2024 and £900 on 31 July 2024. On 31 January 2025 you pay a balancing payment of £1,200 plus the first payment on account of £1,500 for 2024 to 2025, £2,700: then £1,500 on 31 July 2025.

Limits

  • Capital gains and student loan repayments are paid with the balancing payment but aren't included in payments on account; add them to this year's estimate if relevant.

Reading the charts

Each chart redraws as you change the inputs and uses the same calculation as the result above. Choose "Show data" for the exact figures as a table, or download them as a CSV. "Copy link" saves your numbers in the page address so you can come back to the result or share it; nothing is sent to us.

Official sources

Figures last reviewed .

Frequently asked questions

What are payments on account?

Advance payments towards your next Self Assessment bill, including Class 4 National Insurance. Each is half of the tax you owed last year, due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July.

Do I have to make payments on account?

Yes, unless last year's Self Assessment bill was less than £1,000, or you paid more than 80% of the tax you owed outside Self Assessment, for example through your tax code.

What is a balancing payment?

This year's total tax minus the payments on account you've made. It's due by 31 January after the tax year, along with the first payment on account for the next year.

Why is my first January bill so big?

In your first year with a bill over £1,000 you pay the whole bill plus the first payment on account for the following year, up to 150% of the bill in one go. Planning for it avoids falling into debt with HMRC.

What if my income drops?

If you earn less than estimated, your payments on account may cover more than you owe and you may be able to claim a tax refund.

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Disclaimer: This tool gives a general estimate based on what you enter and the published rules. It is not tax, legal or financial advice, and the tax authority makes the final decision. Speak to a qualified professional before acting. See our disclaimer.