HMRC offers time to help pay self assessment tax bills

HMRC is offering self assessment taxpayers a reminder that help is available to manage their tax bill.

The deadline to file and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2026, but people who are unable to pay in full by then may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement online and spread the cost over monthly instalments.

For those with bills of up to £30,000, such an arrangement can be set up without even needing to contact HMRC directly.

According to HMRC, since 6 April 2025 nearly 18,000 payment plans have been set up using the service, helping customers avoid late payment penalties by arranging regular payments that suit their own circumstances.

A Time to Pay arrangements cannot be set up until a self assessment return has been filed. If the tax owed is more than £30,000, or a longer repayment period is needed, people can still apply but will need to contact HMRC directly.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said:

'We're here to help customers get their tax right. If you are worried about paying your self assessment bill, assistance is available. Our online payment plans offer financial flexibility and can be tailored to individual circumstances. We want to support all our customers in meeting their tax obligations with confidence.'