HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment taxpayers to prepare for the 2025 to 2026 tax year’s second payments on account 31 July deadline.
What are payments on account?
Payments on account are payments towards your next tax bill (including Class 4 National Insurance if you’re self-employed). They help spread the cost of your tax by making payments in two instalments. Each payment is half of the tax you owed last year.
These payments are due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July.
Who must make these payments?
You must make these two payments, unless either
- the amount of tax you owed last year was less than £1,000
- last year you paid more than 80% of the tax you owed outside of Self Assessment (for example, through your tax code or because your bank had already deducted interest on your savings)
Your Self Assessment statement or online account will show you how much they are, if you need to pay them.
Read further details on payments on account.
File your Self Assessment tax return early
Payments on account instalments can be paid before a customer has filed their Self Assessment tax return. The deadline for submitting tax returns and paying any remaining tax owed for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027.
Filing your Self Assessment tax return early means that you know how much tax you owe sooner.
First published 29 June 2026
