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Table of contents
Just like using your best handwriting for the first page of a new notebook, most of us set out with the best intentions for paying our tax bill on time. But even the best laid plans can go astray if your cash flow takes a hit, so you might need to request more time to pay your tax bill. In this article we’ll explain your options if you’re having problems paying the tax you owe, including HMRC’s Time to Pay arrangements.
The deadline for paying your tax bill depends on what sort of tax return you need to send. It’s pretty straightforward for Self Assessment tax returns because everyone needs to pay their tax bill by 31st January.
We’ll give you an example. You need to submit a tax return for the 2025/26 tax year (which starts 6th April 2025 and ends 5th April 2026). The deadline to submit your tax return and pay the bill is 31st January 2027.
Tax deadlines are a bit trickier for limited companies because one company might have completely different dates to another. It’s because companies submit Company Tax Returns and pay Corporation Tax according to their financial year, and this varies depending on when you registered the business.
Plus, as a bonus complication, the deadline for paying a company’s tax bill is earlier than the deadline for submitting its tax return. Use our online calculator to estimate your Corporation Tax bill in advance.
The key to this is communicating with HMRC. If you just do nothing and the deadline passes without any action on your part, HMRC will automatically issue a late payment penalty, as well as adding interest to the amount you owe – all of which needs to be paid on top of the original bill.
So, if you think you’ll struggle to pay your tax bill on time, the best thing to do is let HMRC know ASAP. It’s their job to collect tax, so it’s in their best interests to help you find a way of paying – even if that means it takes a little longer. This is where a Time to Pay arrangement might be available.
Time to Pay arrangements are an initiative put in place by HMRC to help those who are struggling to pay their tax bill on time.
It’s basically an official payment plan between you and HMRC that enables you to pay your tax bill in smaller monthly installments, even if the deadline has passed.
Time to Pay arrangements are designed to be flexible, so the terms of any agreement you come to will take on board your individual circumstances and how much you (or your business) can realistically afford to pay each month.
You won’t normally pay more than 50% of your disposable income.
HMRC will conduct an ‘income and expenditure’ assessment to calculate this, so you’ll need to supply them with:
Yes! The great thing is that a Time to Pay plan isn’t set in stone so, if your situation changes, you might be able to make adjustments.
This includes being able to submit ad hoc lump sums, or increasing and decreasing monthly repayment amounts according to fluctuations in what you can afford. Remember, HMRC wants your debts cleared just as much as you do.
You may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement online if:
If this scenario doesn’t apply to you, you will need to get in touch with HMRC and discuss your situation with an adviser. Get some snacks ready – there’s a good chance you’ll be on hold for a while.
Contact HMRC as soon as possible if you think you’ll be unable to pay your tax bill before the deadline. The more time you give yourself for discussions and paperwork, and the more proactive you are about getting everything sorted, the more helpful HMRC are likely to be.
The Time to Pay arrangement process typically follows these four top-level steps:
01
The first step is letting HMRC know about your situation, either by applying online if you meet the above criteria or by calling an adviser if you don’t.
02
If HRMC agrees to a payment plan, your affordability will be assessed, and you will come to an agreement on what you will pay back each month.
03
Once the negotiation, assessment and agreement phases are complete, your TTP can then be formalised and signed. You will then start paying your tax bill in monthly installments.
04
HMRC will work with you to monitor your tax payment plan, and if your circumstances change (e.g. if your monthly income or spending increases or decreases), new payment terms can be negotiated.
Yes, HMRC will still apply interest on top of the tax you owe when you put a Time to Pay arrangement in place.
A TTP essentially buys you more time to pay your tax without incurring penalties, but it doesn’t disqualify you from late payment interest. Typically, this interest will continue to accrue during the repayment period. There are cases when interest may be reduced or even waived, but it’s rare.
Make sure you review the terms and conditions very carefully indeed. It will help you plan your repayment strategy so you can take steps to protect your cash flow as much as possible in the process.
HRMC guidelines say that if you owe unpaid tax, your home is safe. This means HMRC won’t ask you to sell your home in order to pay overdue tax bills. The same applies to your pension, which is also exempt from ways to repay unpaid tax.
However, if you have any other assets, such as savings or additional property, HMRC is entitled to bring these into discussions about how you’re going to settle your tax debt.
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