How to Pay Online Self Assessment Tax: Methods, Deadlines and Bank Details (2026/27)
Quick answer
How to pay online Self Assessment tax: go to HMRC’s payment page on GOV.UK, sign in or pay using your UTR, then choose to pay by bank transfer, debit card or corporate credit card. Use your 10-digit UTR followed by the letter K as the reference. Bank transfers by Faster Payments and card payments usually reach HMRC the same or next day.
Last reviewed: [INSERT REVIEW DATE] · Written by Marina Jahan · Reviewed by Shamayun Chowdhury, ACMA, CMA
Filing your tax return is only half the job. The bill still has to reach HMRC on time, with the right reference, or you can face interest and penalties. This guide explains each way to pay, how long it takes, the bank details to use and the 2026/27 deadlines.
How to pay online self assessment tax: the quick answer
To pay Self Assessment tax online you need three things: your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), the amount you owe, and a way to pay. HMRC’s online service then lets you send the money from your bank or by card in a few minutes.
You can find the amount in your HMRC online account, on your tax return calculation, or on a statement HMRC has sent you. Your UTR is on letters from HMRC and in your HMRC personal tax account. If you have never had one, see our guide on how to get your UTR number.
Once you have those details, knowing how to pay online self assessment tax is mostly about choosing a method that gets the money to HMRC in time. Faster methods matter most in the last few days before a deadline.
Pay self assessment online, step by step
The quickest route is HMRC’s “Pay your Self Assessment tax bill” page on GOV.UK. You can sign in to your account or pay without signing in, using just your UTR.
Here is how to pay self assessment tax online in five steps:
- Open the payment page. Go to GOV.UK’s Self Assessment payment page. Avoid links in texts or emails.
- Sign in or continue without signing in. Signing in shows your exact balance. If you choose not to, you will need your UTR.
- Choose how to pay. You can approve the payment straight from your bank account, pay by debit card or corporate credit card, or set up a one-off Direct Debit.
- Check the reference. It should be your 10-digit UTR followed by K, for example 1234567890K (made up).
- Save your confirmation. Keep the receipt or screenshot. The payment can take a few working days to show in your HMRC account.
If you would rather use your own banking app, you can also pay HMRC by Faster Payments using the bank details in the next section. Either way, the steps to pay HMRC self assessment are the same: right account, right reference, right amount.
Still unsure how to pay online self assessment tax if you have no online banking? A one-off Direct Debit or a debit card payment on GOV.UK works without it.
Accountant insight: HMRC treats your payment as made on the date the money reaches it, not the date you set it up. A Bacs transfer sent on deadline day can still arrive late.
Every way to pay your Self Assessment bill, and how long each takes
When it comes to how to pay online self assessment tax, the method you choose decides when HMRC receives your money. Online bank approval, Faster Payments and card payments usually arrive the same or next day. Bacs and Direct Debits take 3 to 5 working days.
Use this table to pick the right self assessment payment method for your timing:
| How long it takes | Payment method |
|---|---|
| Same or next day | Approve a payment through your bank account on GOV.UK |
| Same or next day | Online or phone banking by Faster Payments |
| Same or next day | CHAPS |
| Same or next day | Debit card or corporate credit card online |
| Same or next day | At your bank or building society, with an HMRC paying-in slip |
| 3 working days | Bacs |
| 3 working days | Direct Debit, if you already have one set up with HMRC |
| 5 working days | Direct Debit, if you are setting one up for the first time |
You can also pay by cheque through the post, make weekly or monthly payments towards your bill, use the HMRC app, or in some cases pay through your tax code. These are covered in Section 3.
Two things HMRC does not accept
Before you decide how to pay online self assessment tax, rule out these two options:
- The Post Office. You can no longer pay your Self Assessment bill there.
- Personal credit cards. HMRC’s list covers debit cards and corporate credit cards only.
So when people ask how to pay online self assessment tax at the last minute, the answer is simple: use Faster Payments, bank approval or a debit card. Avoid Bacs and new Direct Debits close to the deadline.
HMRC bank details and your payment reference
If you pay from your own banking app, send the money to one of HMRC’s two Self Assessment accounts. Always use your 11-character payment reference: your 10-digit UTR followed by the letter K.
| Account | Sort code | Account number | Account name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumbernauld | 08 32 10 | 12001039 | HMRC Cumbernauld |
| Shipley | 08 32 10 | 12001020 | HMRC Shipley |
If you are setting up HMRC as a payee to pay online self assessment tax from your app, these are the details to save. Not sure which account to use? HMRC says you can pay into either. Paying from abroad? Use the international details instead:
- Cumbernauld: IBAN GB62 BARC 2011 4770 2976 90, BIC BARCGB22
- Shipley: IBAN GB03 BARC 2011 4783 9776 92, BIC BARCGB22
Some banks charge a fee for payments in another currency, so check before you send.
Getting the reference right
The reference is the step people most often miss when they learn how to pay online self assessment tax. It tells HMRC which bill to pay. A made-up example looks like this: 1234567890K. Leave out the K, or type a digit wrong, and your payment may be delayed or put against the wrong tax. You can find your reference in your HMRC online account or on your paying-in slip.
Example (illustrative)
Kemi searches “pay my tax bill”, finds HMRC’s bank details and pays from her banking app, typing only her 10-digit UTR. The money leaves her account, but HMRC cannot match it straight away, and her online account still shows the full balance a week later. She calls HMRC to have it allocated. Adding the K would have avoided the delay.
That is the core of how to pay online self assessment tax safely: the correct account, the correct reference and a method fast enough for your deadline. Check all three before you press “send” and you will not need to chase the payment later.
Self Assessment payment deadlines for 2026/27
Timing is half of how to pay online self assessment tax correctly. You usually pay twice a year: by 31 January and by 31 July. If your payment would arrive on a weekend or bank holiday, it must reach HMRC by the last working day before, unless you pay by Faster Payments or card.
| Deadline | What you pay |
|---|---|
| 31 January 2027 | Any balance for 2025/26, plus your first payment on account for 2026/27 |
| 31 July 2027 | Your second payment on account for 2026/27 |
Payments on account are advance payments towards next year’s bill. They apply if your last bill was over £1,000, unless most of your tax is already taken at source. Our guide to becoming self-employed explains how they work in your first year.
The weekend rule matters in 2027, because 31 January 2027 falls on a Sunday. If you pay by Bacs, Direct Debit or cheque, the money must reach HMRC by Friday 29 January. This is a detail many guides on how to pay online self assessment tax leave out.
Worked example (illustrative)
Sam owes £4,200 for January 2027. On Friday 29 January he sends a Bacs payment. Bacs takes about 3 working days, so the money arrives around Wednesday 3 February, which is late. Had he paid by Faster Payments or debit card, even on Sunday 31 January, it would have counted as on time.
Paying in instalments, through your tax code or with the HMRC app
You do not have to pay in one lump sum on deadline day. You can spread the cost before the deadline, have it collected through your tax code if you are employed, or pay using the HMRC app. Each is a valid answer to how to pay online self assessment tax.
Weekly or monthly payments
You can set up weekly or monthly payments towards your bill before it is due. Many people who search “pay my self assessment” really want this: smaller amounts through the year instead of one large sum in January.
Through your tax code
If you are employed or get a workplace pension, HMRC can collect your bill through your tax code over the next tax year. To qualify, you must owe less than £3,000 and file your return online by 30 December, or on paper by 31 October. HMRC will not do this if it would take more than half of your PAYE income.
The HMRC app
The free HMRC app lets you check what you owe and pay through your bank’s app or online banking. For many people, this is the easiest way to see how to pay online self assessment tax without hunting for bank details.
What if you can’t pay your tax bill?
If you cannot pay your tax bill in full, contact HMRC before the deadline. You may be able to set up a payment plan, known as Time to Pay. Interest still runs on anything paid late.
You can usually set up a Self Assessment payment plan online if all of these apply:
- you owe £30,000 or less;
- your tax returns are up to date;
- you have no other payment plans or debts with HMRC;
- it is less than 60 days after the payment deadline.
If you owe more, or it is later than that, call HMRC to discuss a plan.
Late payment interest is charged at the Bank of England base rate plus 4%. That was 7.75% from 9 January 2026, but check HMRC’s current rates, as they change with the base rate. Penalties can also apply if tax is 30 days or more late.
Knowing how to pay online self assessment tax is only useful if you can pay. If you cannot, acting early is cheaper than waiting.
Common mistakes when you pay HMRC Self Assessment
Most problems with how to pay online self assessment tax come from five avoidable slips:
- Leaving off the K. Your reference is your UTR plus K. Without it, the payment can be delayed or misallocated.
- Using a slow method late. Bacs and new Direct Debits take 3 to 5 working days, so they can miss the deadline.
- Paying from a link in a text or email. Always start from GOV.UK or the HMRC app.
- Forgetting July. If you make payments on account, your second payment is due by 31 July.
- Assuming “sent” means “received”. HMRC counts the date the money arrives, not the date it left your account.
How to pay online self assessment tax: FAQs
Can I pay my Self Assessment without signing in?
Yes. If you want to know how to pay online self assessment tax without signing in, HMRC’s payment page lets you pay using your UTR as part of the reference.
How long does an online payment take to reach HMRC?
Faster Payments, online bank approval and card payments usually arrive the same or next day. Bacs takes 3 working days.
Can I pay my tax bill with a credit card?
Only a corporate credit card. HMRC’s list covers debit cards and corporate credit cards, not personal credit cards.
What is my Self Assessment payment reference?
Your 10-digit UTR followed by the letter K, for example 1234567890K (made up).
Should I pay into the Cumbernauld or Shipley account?
Either is fine if you are unsure. Both use sort code 08 32 10.
Can I pay my tax bill in instalments?
Yes. You can set up weekly or monthly payments before the deadline, or ask HMRC for a payment plan if you cannot pay in full on time.
What if 31 January falls on a weekend?
Slower payments must arrive by the last working day before. Faster Payments and card payments can still be made on the day.
How do I check HMRC has received my payment?
Sign in to your HMRC online account or the HMRC app. A payment can take a few working days to show.
Final verdict on how to pay online self assessment tax
How to pay online self assessment tax comes down to three checks: pay into the right HMRC account, use your UTR plus K, and pick a method fast enough for your deadline. Faster Payments, bank approval or a debit card are the safest choices close to 31 January.
Whether you use GOV.UK, your banking app or the HMRC pay Self Assessment option inside the HMRC app, keep your confirmation until the payment shows in your account. Bookmark this guide so you know how to pay online self assessment tax again next January.
Your next steps
- Check your balance in your HMRC account.
- Note your reference: UTR plus K.
- Pay by Faster Payments, bank approval or debit card.
- Diary 31 January and 31 July.
Want your Self Assessment handled for you?
Major Accountancy prepares and files tax returns, tells you exactly what to pay and when, and helps you set up a payment plan if you need one.
About the author and reviewer
Written by Marina Jahan
Senior Content Strategist, SEO and Marketing Specialist · Major Accountancy Ltd
Marina turns HMRC rules into plain-English guides, researched from GOV.UK and HMRC sources. [ADD: years of experience and any relevant qualification, only if held.]
Technically reviewed by Shamayun Chowdhury
BA (Hons), MSc, ACMA, CMA, CIPFA (Affil), MAAT, AATQB
Senior Accountant, Leicester · Director, Major Accountancy Ltd · Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University · 15+ years’ UK practice
Checked against GOV.UK in October 2026. General information, not personal tax advice.