If you pay tax through Self Assessment, your second payment on account for 2025/26 is due by Friday 31 July 2026. That is eight days away.
Before you pay, it is worth five minutes to check the amount is right and that your payment will reach HMRC in time.
Five checks before you pay
Check the amount in your HMRC online account. It is usually half of your 2024/25 Self Assessment bill. If you have already filed your 2025/26 return and your bill is lower, HMRC will have reduced it automatically. A higher bill doesn't increase it; the extra is paid in January.
Ask whether your profits have fallen. If your 2025/26 bill is likely to be lower than 2024/25, you can claim to reduce this payment. Only reduce it to what you expect to owe. Our post on reducing your payment on account explains how.
Use the right reference. It is your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference followed by the letter K. A wrong reference can delay your payment or put it against a different bill.
Allow time for the money to arrive. Faster Payments usually arrive the same or next day. Bacs payments usually take 3 working days, so pay by Tuesday 28 July if you use Bacs.
Check the bank details on GOV.UK or your bill. HMRC lists them on its pay your Self Assessment bill page. Be wary of any email or text giving different details.
If you can't pay on time
A late payment on account is charged interest from 1 August. HMRC's late payment interest rate is currently 7.75%. Contact HMRC as soon as you can if you can't pay, and talk to us about your options.
Plan ahead for January 2027
On 31 January 2027 you may need to pay:
any balancing payment for 2025/26, and
your first payment on account for 2026/27
If you file your 2025/26 return early, you will know the figure months in advance. You can also pay HMRC in weekly or monthly instalments ahead of the deadline, using a Budget Payment Plan. You can only set one up if your previous Self Assessment payments are up to date, and it is for saving towards future bills.
Summary
Before 31 July, check the amount, consider whether it should be reduced, use your UTR followed by K, and allow time for the payment to arrive. Then start planning for January.
If you would like us to check your figures before you pay, book a call or contact us.