21,600 customers use online payment plans for Self Assessment bill

The deadline for customers to submit their tax returns for the 2021–22 tax year and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2023 and HMRC is encouraging anyone yet to complete their return to do it early. Those who have already completed their Self Assessment know what they owe and can budget to make payments on time.

Filing early also means customers, who are unable to pay their tax bill in full by the deadline, will have plenty of time to access support and advice on GOV.UK. HMRC may be able to help by arranging an affordable payment plan.

In the 12 months to 5 April 2022, almost 142,000 customers chose to use self-serve Time to Pay to pay any tax owed for the 2020–21 tax year, spreading the cost of around £475 million into monthly instalments.

Using HMRC’s self-serve Time to Pay facility means customers benefit from a tailored payment plan via monthly direct debits. This means they can spread the cost of their tax bill based on how much is owed and the length of time they need to pay. Self Assessment customers can apply on GOV.UK if they:

• Have filed their tax return for the 2021–22 tax year
• Owe less than £30,000
• Can pay in full within 12 months

If customers owe more than £30,000 or need longer to pay, they should call the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200 3822.

A list of alternative payment options including payment via the free and secure HMRC app is available on GOV.UK.

A full list of payment options and eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK by searching “HMRC payment option”.