When do I have to pay my tax bill?
By 31 January following the end of the tax year, with a second instalment on 31 July if you are making payments on account.
Last checked 12/09/2026.
31 January, for the tax year that ended the previous 5 April. So the 2026/27 year ends 5 April 2027 and the bill is due 31 January 2028.
Filing has the same deadline. 31 January is both the last day to file online and the last day to pay, which is why January is the month everybody talks about.
| Date | What is due |
|---|---|
| 5 October | Register with HMRC, if this was your first year |
| 31 October | Paper return, if you file on paper |
| 30 December | Last day to file online if you want a bill under £3,000 collected through your PAYE tax code |
| 31 January | Online return, balancing payment, and first payment on account |
| 31 July | Second payment on account |
You can pay earlier and many people do, in instalments through a budget payment plan set up in your HMRC account. Nothing about paying early costs you anything.
JoltMile has a compliance calendar that puts these dates against your own tax year and tells you what each one means.
Related
What are payments on account?
Advance payments toward next year's tax bill, due if this year's bill is £1,000 or more - which is why a first January bill can be 150% of what you expected.
HMRC & taxUpdated 19/08/2026
What are the penalties for filing late?
£100 the day after 31 January, even if you owe nothing. It escalates from there with daily penalties after three months.
HMRC & taxUpdated 19/08/2026
What if I cannot pay my tax bill?
File on time anyway, then set up a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC. Interest still applies but the late-payment penalties can be avoided.
HMRC & taxUpdated 19/08/2026
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