How to pay your Self Assessment bill: every method compared

You can pay your Self Assessment bill by bank transfer, by approving a payment in your banking app, by debit card, by Direct Debit, by cheque or, for bills under £3,000, through your tax code. The quickest methods reach HMRC the same or next day; Bacs and repeat Direct Debits take 3 working days. Whatever you choose, use your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) followed by K as the reference.

When do you need to pay?

You pay Self Assessment by two dates each year, according to GOV.UK:

• 31 January: the balancing payment for the previous tax year and your first payment on account
• 31 July: your second payment on account

So the 2025/26 balancing payment is due by 31 January 2027. That date is a Sunday. GOV.UK says that when a deadline falls at a weekend, payment must reach HMRC by the last working day before, except for Faster Payments and card payments. Our payments on account guide explains the July payment.

Which payment methods can you use?

There are seven main methods. This table shows how long each takes to reach HMRC.

You can no longer pay at the Post Office.

How do you pay by bank transfer?

Pay by Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs using HMRC’s bank details. Use the account shown on your bill; if you have no bill, either account works.

From overseas, Cumbernauld’s IBAN is GB62 BARC 2011 4770 2976 90 and Shipley’s is GB03 BARC 2011 4783 9776 92, both with BIC BARCGB22.

Your reference is 11 characters: your UTR then K, for example 1234567890K. A wrong reference can delay the payment or put it against a different bill. If you cannot find your UTR, see how to find your UTR number.

You can also choose “pay by bank account” in your HMRC online account or the HMRC app. You approve a payment to “HMRC Shipley” in your bank’s app. GOV.UK says it is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show.

Can you pay by card?

Yes, by debit card or corporate card, but not by personal credit card. The card payment page says personal debit cards are free and corporate credit and debit cards carry a non-refundable fee. A card payment counts on the date you make it, including weekends and bank holidays.

How does Direct Debit work?

You set up a Direct Debit in your HMRC online account. The first one takes up to 5 working days; one using the same bank details as before takes about 3. Each extra payment before the deadline needs a new single Direct Debit.

To spread the cost, set up a Budget Payment Plan for weekly or monthly payments towards your next bill. You must be up to date with your last bill, and you can pause payments for up to 6 months. See our Budget Payment Plan guide.

Can you pay by cheque or at a bank?

Yes. Make the cheque payable to “HM Revenue and Customs only”, write your UTR and K on the back, and send it to HMRC Direct, BX5 5BD. It must reach HMRC by the deadline.

You can pay cash or cheque at your bank branch only if HMRC sent you a paper paying-in slip. A branch payment counts on the day you pay, Monday to Friday.

Can you pay through your tax code?

Yes, if all three conditions on GOV.UK apply:

• you owe less than £3,000
• you already pay tax through PAYE, from a job or a company pension
• you file on time: on paper by 31 October, or online by 30 December

HMRC then collects the tax from your pay or pension in 12 equal monthly instalments. Read paying through your tax code by 30 December.

Latest dates to pay for 31 January 2027

Because 31 January 2027 is a Sunday, work back from Friday 29 January:

1. Friday 22 January: latest to set up a first Direct Debit (5 working days).
2. Tuesday 26 January: latest to send Bacs or set up a repeat Direct Debit (3 working days).
3. Friday 29 January: latest for CHAPS, and for a cheque to arrive.
4. Sunday 31 January: Faster Payments, bank approval and debit card still count.

What if you cannot pay in full?

Pay what you can by the deadline and contact HMRC about the rest. You may be able to set up a payment plan, called Time to Pay, online or by phone. See HMRC’s payment support service.

Interest runs on late tax, and GOV.UK says penalties of 5% of the unpaid tax apply at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. HMRC’s late payment interest rate rises to 8% from 24 November 2026; see HMRC late payment interest.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay my Self Assessment with a credit card?

Not with a personal credit card. You can use a corporate credit or debit card, which carries a non-refundable fee, or a personal debit card for free.

What reference do I use to pay Self Assessment?

Use your 11-character payment reference: your 10-digit UTR followed by the letter K.

How long does a Self Assessment payment take to reach HMRC?

Faster Payments and online bank approval usually arrive the same or next day. Bacs takes 3 working days, and a first Direct Debit up to 5 working days.

What if 31 January falls on a weekend?

Payments must reach HMRC by the last working day before, Friday 29 January in 2027. Faster Payments and card payments still count on the weekend.